“Shot in the arm for 2023” Twitter hails Rafael Nadal despite consolation victory against Casper Ruud in 2022 ATP Finals
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Rafael Nadal
Spaniard legend Rafael Nadal finally broke the jinx and defeated Casper Ruud in the final round-robin group match at the 2022 ATP Finals in straight sets within one hour and 42 minutes of play. He had lost his previous group stages against Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger Aliassime in straight sets. The win also ended his 4-match losing streak since his fourth-round loss at the US Open.
This was the second time both the players were meeting and it was Nadal who turned out victorious in both encounters. The Spaniard hit 16 aces in the match and won 93% of points on his first serve. Though the Norwegian played well, the Mallorcan proved to be the better player with amazing shots on display, especially with an over-the-head smash.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion ended the year with an overall 39-8 win-loss with four titles throughout the year. He could not make it to the semifinals at the Year-end championship and his quest for a title in Turin remains unfulfilled. But Rafael Nadal was acknowledged on social media for ending the year on a positive note with a win since he had been criticized for the loss in his form following an early exit at the Paris Masters followed by two losses in Turin.
Rafael Nadal was part of the Green Group at the ATP Finals and the irony was that all the other players have been part of his academy or had been coached by his uncle. It was the easier group as compared to the Red Group since none of the Green Group members had ever won in Turin.
Twitter reacts to Rafael Nadal ending 2022 on a positive note by ending his 4-match losing streak
People on social hailed Rafael Nadal for a finish like a phoenix and ending the year as the World No 2. Some even appreciated his undying spirit and acknowledged his ‘Never Give Up’ attitude as the win will prove to be a morale booster for the record 14-time French Open champion.
The Australian Open champion had a remarkable year winning two Grand Slam titles and even had a 20-match winning streak at the major tournaments until his loss in Flushing Meadows. His injury at Wimbledon proved to be a major setback following his withdrawal ahead of the semifinal against Nick Kyrgios. Due to his injury, he could not perform flawlessly in the second part of the year as compared to the first half of the year.
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Prateek Pradhan
(601 Articles Published)