“I know it’s going to be almost impossible” Rafael Nadal speaks about his mentality in staging comebacks
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Rafael Nadal
World No. 4 and the 4th seed at the ongoing 2022 Indian Wells Masters, Rafael Nadal was taken the distance by 21-year old World No. 38 Sebastian Korda in the second round. In an intense 2.5 hours battle, Nadal won the match 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(3) in an epic comeback match in the Californian desert.
With the first two sets split, Korda was leading 5-2 in the third set and looked to shock the 21-time Grand Slam champion. Nadal however had different plans and turned the match on its head levelling the score at 5-5. Korda had to serve to take the set into the tiebreaker where Nadal kept his cool and his experience helped him to overcome the spirited American.
Post his match, Nadal’s spirit and mentality was again on display and appreciated by the tennis fraternity for again finding his way back into the match that almost look like slipping away from his hands. Nadal in his interview with journalist Christopher Clarey then spoke about how he actually thinks and plans his game in these crunch moments.
“I don’t know. The only thing that I can tell you is if the people believe that I am a believer all the time that I going to come back, not true. I am not this. I don’t have this amazing self-confidence that even if I am 5-2, okay, I going to come back. No. But in my mind is, Okay, is almost impossible. I don’t want to give up. I going to keep trying. But I know it’s going to be almost impossible. Let’s try to let him win, not help him to win.
“Just try to keep going and to put things a little bit more difficult to the opponent. Normal thing with this kind of match, in that position from 100 matches, probably you going to lose 90. But if you give up, you’re going to lose 100. If you are there, you can win 10%,” said Nadal as reported by Clarey.
Tricky test for Rafael Nadal in the 3rd round
With the win over Korda, Nadal extends his season record to 16-0. Next up for him will be former British No. 1 Daniel Evans who comes into the 3rd round with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Federico Coria having received a bye in the first round for being the 27th seed at the tournament. It will be third meeting between the duo, with Nadal having won both of their previous meetings.
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