Rafael Nadal made his Masters 1000 debut as a qualifier in Monte Carlo 2003 at 16. The young Spaniard toppled two rivals to reach the third round and create a memorable start at the ATP premium series. Nineteen years later, Rafa is one of the most decorated players at the Masters 1000 level, scoring over 400 victories and lifting 36 trophies from 53 finals! Nadal’s first prominent Masters 1000 results came in 2005 when he conquered four titles from five finals. Year after year, the Spaniard was in contention for at least one Masters 1000 title, advancing into at least one final in 17 seasons to match Roger Federer’s record! Since 2005, Rafa missed a Masters 1000 final only in 2020, extending his legacy and notching another title match in the season behind us. Nadal kicked off his 20th Masters 1000 campaign with the Indian Wells final, securing his 53rd title match at this level and joining Roger on the exclusive record.
Rafael Nadal reached a Masters 1000 final in 17 seasons.
Rafa came to Indian Wells with a perfect 15-0 record in 2022, winning Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco and seeking the first trophy in the desert since 2013. The Spaniard had to work hard right from the opening match. He trailed 5-2 in the decider against the young American Sebastian Korda before prevailing in the tie break and avoiding an early setback. Nadal broke Daniel Evans three times in a 7-5, 6-3 victory for a place in the fourth round, and things did not become any easier for a three-time champion. Nadal prevailed over a hard-hitting American Reilly Opelka in two tie breaks to advance into the quarter-final, where he faced Nick Kyrgios. Nadal scored a hard-fought 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 triumph in two hours and 46 minutes, delivering a crucial break in the decider’s seventh game to remain on the title course.
In the tournament’s best match, Rafa ousted the fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and 12 minutes in the semi-final! The wind created almost impossible conditions, but they produced top-class tennis and pushed each other to the limits from start to finish. Struggling with a left rib injury, Nadal found a way to seal the deal in the final set and find himself in the 53rd Masters 1000 final, 17 years after the first one! Fighting for the 37th Masters 1000 crown, Rafa suffered a 6-3, 7-6 loss to Taylor Fritz in two hours and six minutes, missing his chances in the second set and spraying too many mistakes to experience the season’s first loss. Indian Wells was Nadal’s best Masters 1000 event of the year, struggling in Madrid, Rome and Cincinnati and wrapping up the year with an early Paris Masters exit.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login