“I deserved that for playing that bad,” Rafael Nadal gives an update on his horrific nose injury after battling past Fabio Fognini in the US Open
Follow Us
Rafael Nadal
World No. 3 and the 2nd seed of the 2022 US Open, Rafael Nadal had to fight a long way to enter the third round as he defeated Fabio Fognini over 4 sets. Nadal won the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in 2 hours and 41 minutes on the Arthur Ashe stadium as the Spaniard continues his campaign for his 5th US Open title and 23rd major of his career.
While Nadal managed only 4 aces, Fabio had a solitary ace throughout the match while committing 9 double faults to the Spaniard’s 2. The Italian hit 24 winners to Nadal’s 20 but he also committed way more unforced errors, making 60 on the night to Rafa’s 37, which eventually gave the window for Rafa to make the comeback despite trailing 2-4 in the second set. Nadal closed out the match with 105 points to Fabio’s 81 to continue his hunt for his 3rd major of the season.
Rafael Nadal becomes the first player to qualify for the ATP Finals this year
Nadal had to battle hand blisters early in the match and then hit his own nose in the 4th set that almost broke his nose and the Spaniard had to take his second medical timeout to nurse his bleeding nose. Rafa however wrapped up the match pretty soon as the incident occurred in the 4th game when Rafa was 3-0 up and he went on to win the set 6-1.
“No need to create a story, it was just a strong hit and at the beginning, I thought I had broken my nose because I was shocked in the beginning and it was very painful and I lost a bit, I don’t know how to say it in English, but the feeling in my head was like being out of the world. I don’t know if it has broken, I am not sure yet but I think it’s getting bigger and bigger. That’s just a shock, and someway I deserved that for playing that bad (laughs), just joking. Things like that happen sometimes,” said Rafa in the press conference.
Nadal also became the first player this year to book his place in the 2022 ATP Finals where the Spaniard will chase his maiden Year-End Championship title, the only big trophy missing from his glorious and massive trophy cabinet.
“I know I will be there after a while. Because winning two Grand Slams it’s difficult to not be there. But, one more year at the age of 36 and finishing the year in the Top-5 is better than we expected from when we started the year. Happy about how things are going this year, happy to stay alive after tonight and now is the moment to play better and I hope to make that better.
“I am practising much much better than what I am playing so that’s a positive thing that I need to make it happen in the matches. It’s not easy but I am taking a step forward. At the end of the match, I was playing better than in the first round without a doubt so that seems internally an improvement and two matches already, two victories that help and now it’s another opportunity,” added Nadal further.
With the win over the cocky Fabio, Nadal will now take on French veteran Richard Gasquet in the third round looking to book his place in the second week of the Grand Slam.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)