WATCH: “Seems like watching in 1.5x speed” Rafael Nadal leaves fans awestruck by an exceptional rally


WATCH: “Seems like watching in 1.5x speed” Rafael Nadal leaves fans awestruck by an exceptional rally

Rafael Nadal

There certainly aren’t many names in the tennis world than Rafael Nadal. The 20-time grand slam winner is one of the most iconic players in the history of the game, being firmly in contention for being the greatest of all time. The 34-year-old has had an illustrious career, winning innumerable titles along the way.

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2021 was not very kind to the former World No.1, with injuries marring his season and forcing him to end his season early. However, he’s started the new season in ominous form, picking up the ATP title in Melbourne after returning from COVID-19 and then starting his Australian Open campaign with a dominating straight-sets victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Nadal shows his class in an exceptional rally

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

As Rafa started his Australian Open 2022 campaign with a thumping victory over the German Yannick Hanfmann, Nadal showed exactly why he is one of the most iconic players of all time in an exceptional rally. Despite all his titles and achievements, the Spaniard still finds new ways to leave people awestruck.

In the said rally which took place as the opening set was still 2-2, Hanfmann was in a really strong position, moving Nadal around the court expertly and looking certain to win the point. He then forced Nadal wide of the court, and then smashed the ball down the line at the center, hoping to end the rally. However, despite the Spaniard not even being in the frame as the ball dropped, he zipped across the court, reached the ball and played an exquisite shot into the right-hand corner of the opposition court to win the point. Such was the brilliance of the rally that Hanfmann would probably have been genuinely bewildered on how he lost the rally from the position he was in.

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“Well, he must be wondering how on earth he lost that point!” said Annabel Croft, sharing in Hanfmann’s disbelief from the Eurosport commentary box. He was so in command of it. Look: how on earth can Nadal win the point from that position right there?! He was on the defence, facing the wrong direction! Hanfmann did everything right.”– said the commentator, who shared our disbelief at the shot.

Fans react to the unreal rally:

Following the match, Twitter exploded with fans surprised and mesmerized by the exceptional rally by Nadal.

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