How do you beat Rafael Nadal in a Grand Slam? It seems a question that does not have a fixed answer, but that more than one have tried without success. The last of them was the American Mackenzie McDonald, who learned from his mistakes in the past to finally defeat the top winner of this type of tournament. Just a couple of years ago, in 2020, they saw their faces on the clay of Roland Garros. Nor is it the best scenario to have chances against the Mallorcan. On that occasion, Nadal prevailed with authority in straight sets 6-1, 6-0 and 6-3. Now the American returned the courtesy. But how did he do it? “I believed that he had options. I thought about when Taylor (Fritz) beat him and about (Frances) Tiafoe. I spoke to Tommy (Paul) about it last night and that gave me confidence. Even watching him at the United Cup with (Alex) De Minaur and (Cameron) Norrie helped me a bit. Today I had that belief and I proved it. I have not been as afraid of him as in the past Roland Garros, when I did not think I was ready to do anything against him, “McDonald acknowledged in words taken up by ‘Break Point’. And he saw himself on the track. He attacked him over and over again, even when Rafa was physically fine. Already injured, he was somewhat easier on him in what was arguably the most important win of the American’s career. Before the match, did you see any chance for Mackenzie McDonald to eliminate the defending champion from the Australian Open?
Uncle Toni comments on Nadal
Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former long-term coach Toni Nadal can only hope to see his nephew make yet another famous comeback. “My hope is now focused on seeing him, once again, raising his head and fighting to be at Roland Garros defending his options,” Toni Nadal wrote in a column for El Pais. “Let’s hope that his body responds because the commitment and the capacity for suffering, I think he will not lack. I remain prudent and, certainly, pleased to witness the great ovation that the Australian public dedicated to Rafael when he said goodbye this Wednesday at the Rod Laver Arena,” the Spanish coach expressed. Once the severity of Rafael Nadal’s injury has been confirmed, the next question is where will he reappear on the ATP circuit? The 36-year-old Spanish tennis player suffered a grade 2 injury to the Psoas Iliaco in his left leg. In his brief statement, the top Grand Slam winner said that “now he plays sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time 6 to 8 weeks. In this way, he will end up absent from the following stops that he had contemplated in his calendar, such as the tournaments in Dubai and Doha.
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