Rafael Nadal cuts Jack Draper to size at the Australian Open lung opener
Rafael Nadal proves his worth yet again as he takes down young Briton Jack Draper in the 2023 Australian Open.
Follow Us
Rafael Nadal - IMAGO / AAP
It’s hard to be a defending champion and come out firing like Rambo on the first day of a Grand Slam tennis championship. At the 2023 Australian Open on Monday in typical Melbourne weather — blue skies then showers and eventually heat — Rafael Nadal was not at his best. That was just one part of the story.
At 36, and the owner of 22 Grand Slam titles, he was up against another southpaw, Jack Draper from Britain. With flashes of brilliance, moments of action-packed serves, and that glare now and then, Draper looked like the Jack of all trades. That was promising, to say the least. But then, when you are up against the Spaniard, a veteran who has been coming Down Under for nearly two decades, he has been through many dress rehearsals and the big acts.
In 2022, he triumphed. Nadal haters said he won because Novak Djokovic had been deported. That does not matter because in his bio, being the winner of AO and the French Open, 14 times, stands out. Nadal’s entry into the AO 2023 was being questioned. Poor form, fitness, and much more. All negatives. Never mind that.
Seasoned champions weather all storms which Melbourne can produce in one day, from high temperatures, and energy-sapping heat to a sudden drop in ambient air temperature. Eventually, just as the dry bulb measuring the temperature fluctuated, so did the form of both combatants. Nadal was not in sublime form. Nadal was shaky, perhaps edgy as well. He was looking for his lost or misplaced racket, even cajoling the chair umpire, his supply of water bottles was missing.
Related: Nick Kyrgios’ injury not in the nick of time at the 2023 Australian Open
Rafael Nadal humble enough to praise the young Briton
Complaining? No. Mind game? Maybe, yes. You can do anything legit in the book as long as you can continue to produce the goods to win. The Spaniard knew this battle had been hyped, as it was a battle of lefties. In this, the whole geometry of tennis changes, angles, passing shots, and so on. If Draper was firing Scud missile serves, he was good. Papa Rafa, now a master in babysitting, knew he was not going to let a 21-year-old kid walk away a winner.
The forehand shots which Rafa produced, when needed, were brilliant. Through four sets of tennis, where crowds cheered for both, the Briton was high on adrenaline. If that alone could win matches, he may have won. Never mind, despite that serve and aggression, Nadal showed he was the boss, literally. In over three hours of tennis, where you could see both players stretching each sinew, each joint working overtime, there was plenty of muscle in the game.
Eventually, Nadal won 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. To be sure, coming into the Australian Open, momentum was with Draper. Rafa lacked momentum, as he was down in the dumps, some thought. He has made changes in his game, and the serve modification has been a key so as to not again injure his abdomen muscle.
Tears in it had forced him out at Big W last year and the season-finale ATP was also not good for the man who keeps breaking records. Perhaps, where fans got carried away with the Briton was underestimating the resilience of Nadal in a five-setter. He digs deep, into his soul, spirit, mind, and body. Then, like a genie saying something, he produces magical tennis. Monday was only four sets.
This is where lack of experience saw Draper being cut to size by Rafael Nadal. Endurance battle of sorts, cramps, and so on, Draper was hit. There was an education for him in this match, that flashes of brilliance do not win you matches at Majors. You got to be a rock-solid dude. Match the two bodies, one 36 years of age and the other 21. That is a huge difference. Papa Rafa showed he was the Dad on the court as well, tearing away to victory.
As the Spanish King said later, he has become more mature, after becoming a father last year and enjoying the emotions. Many lessons were learnt and enjoying the journey to the AO. If you compare images of Rafa from his first visit to Melbourne and now, you can see the physical changes. Oh, yes, game-wise, he is still good enough to carve up his opponents. The first-round blues are over.
“I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round, being seeded,” Nadal said. “He’s young, (has) power and I think he has a great future in front. We’re going to see him playing a lot of years here,” said a generous Nadal.
For the record, he had 22 forehand winners reeling off his racket at an arena that he has started enjoying. You still think Rafa does well only on the brick-red Parisian clay?
Continue Reading:
Stay Updated!
S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)