“One of the best years of my career,” Rafael Nadal reveals how the Indian Wells Masters title became a catalyst to his successful 2013 season


“One of the best years of my career,” Rafael Nadal reveals how the Indian Wells Masters title became a catalyst to his successful 2013 season
Rafael Nadal defeated Juan Martin Del Potro in the finals of the Indian Wells 2013

Rafael Nadal secured his 1000th ATP win with his win over Feliciano Lopez in the second round of the Paris Masters 2020. The Spaniard has several memorable victories during his career but one of the top ones in his memory is the 3 set thriller he won against Juan Martin Del Potro at the Indian Wells Masters 2013. His title at Indian Wells was his first hardcourt title in just over 2 and a half years.

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Rafael Nadal had been struggling with a knee injury for most part of 2012 and did not play in that year after his French Open triumph. The Spaniard had to withdraw himself from the Australian Open 2013 citing a stomach virus. Rafael Nadal started his 2013 season on South American clay courts, but never managed to return to playing his best tennis even though he won the Mexico Open.

Rafael Nadal struggled with knee pain during the early months of 2013 and was unsure about his participation at the 2013 Indian Wells due to a persistent pain. Speaking of his Indian Wells victory in 2013 in a youtube video put up by ATP to show his milestone wins, Nadal said, “For me it was emotional, winning a hardcourt title after two and a half years. All of 2012 was tough for me, I could not play after Roland Garros. I was not sure about going to Indian Wells as I had some pain in the knee but I finally decided to go and of course the decision was a right one.”

The final that kick started one of Nadal’s best years on tour

Nadal ended the 2013 with 10 titles and year end ranking of number 1

Rafael Nadal defeated Juan Martin Del Potro in the finals of the Indian Wells in a tough three set match. The Spaniard came back from being a set down to claim his 22nd Masters title. Incidentally, the final victory was also his 600th ATP win. Rafael Nadal’s 2013 season is regarded as one of the best comeback stories in tennis. Rafael started the year as the World number 4, after missing on tour for over 6 months due to a knee injury but ended the year at World number one.

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The Spaniard won 8 ATP Titles in 2013 and won 2 Grandslam titles at the French Open and the US Open, which marked one of his best years on tour. Rafael Nadal won 6 clay court titles and 4 hard court titles during the year and had dominating records over some top players like Roger Federer who he beat on 4 occasions in 2013, Stan Wawrinka (4 times). Rafael Nadal in the video said, ” From Acapulco to the end of the year, 2013 had been one of the best years in my tennis career.”

Also Read: “It seemed like for a moment I had an advantage, then him,” Rafael Nadal on the final that gave rise to the Fedal rivalry