Rafael Nadal is yet to win a match this season! The Spaniard led his country at the inaugural United Cup and experienced two tight losses to Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur. Thus, Rafa has lost the opening two matches of the season for the first time in a career, winning the opening set but finishing on the losing side.
Nadal fell to the Sydney native Alex de Minaur 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, recovering his game after a terrible second set but getting broken in the decider’s closing stages. There were 25 break points in total, and de Minaur played better when it mattered the most.
The Aussie saved eight out of 12 break points and delivered six return games that carried him over the top. Both players served well in the encounter’s opening four games before Rafa sprayed a forehand error at 2-2 to drop serve.
Alex squandered a game point in the next one and lost serve after a forced volley mistake. Nadal gained a boost and grabbed another break from 40-0 down to forge a 5-3 advantage after the rival’s wayward forehand. Rafa cracked a backhand crosscourt winner while serving for the set in game nine and held for 6-3.
The second set saw only seven games and still lasted over 50 minutes after numerous deuces. De Minaur took charge with three consecutive breaks for 6-1 and a massive boost ahead of the decider. Rafa delivered his third straight break for a 6-3, 1-0 advantage.
He failed to bring the second game home, and the Aussie seized the fourth break chance with a backhand winner for 1-1. Alex pushed strong on the return in game four and grabbed the fourth break point with a backhand winner for 3-1.
De Minaur saved a break point in the next one and closed it with a touchy volley winner for 4-1. Nadal lost serve again in game six after a wild forehand and created three break points a few minutes later.
Rafael Nadal experienced a tight loss to Alex de Minaur.
The Aussie climbed back and seized the second set point after forcing Nadal’s mistake that introduced a decider.
Rafa made a better start in the final set, serving well and creating break chances in game two. De Minaur denied four and closed the game after Nadal’s loose forehand for a crucial hold. Alex delivered a break at 15 in game five after Rafa’s routine backhand error to move in front.
However, Nadal cracked a forehand crosscourt winner in the sixth game to pull the break back and extend the battle. The Spaniard held at love in the ninth game for 5-4 and left his opponent to serve to stay in the match. Alex brought the game home at 30 for 5-5 and more drama.
Nadal played a terrible service game and got broken at love in game 11 after a forehand error, falling 6-5 behind and losing a chance for a better result. De Minaur held at love with a service winner in game 12 to topple Nadal and deliver a victory for his country in his hometown.
“Alex played better in the crucial moments; that made the difference. I had my chances to win, but I made costly mistakes in the moments when I could not afford them. You can not win a match like this while doing that,” Rafael Nadal said.
