After a few weeks away from the court, a 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal is back. Nadal practiced at home in Mallorca, embracing a light training session on clay. Rafa has been dealing with a Grade 2 iliopsoas injury since the Australian Open, staying away from tennis for a few weeks and returning on his beloved clay.
The Spaniard is yet to decide about his participation in Indian Wells and Miami. However, his training surface gives us another hint that he should skip the upcoming Masters 1000 events and return to action in Monte Carlo in April.
Rafa claimed two Major titles in 2022 and looked good to finish the season at the top. However, he injured his abdominal muscle at Wimbledon and scored only four wins in the rest of the season. Instead of a fresh start in 2023, the Spaniard lost two United Cup matches from a set up and traveled to Melbourne with no confidence.
Nadal passed the first obstacle at the Australian Open and faced Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. Nadal injured his left leg in the second set’s closing stages and experienced a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 loss.
Rafael Nadal trained on clay at home in Mallorca.
The American beat the Spaniard in straight sets and delivered Rafa’s earliest loss at Majors since 2016. McDonald played well and stayed focused against an injured rival in the third set. Mackenzie produced five breaks from eight opportunities and lost serve twice to emerge at the top.
He made a flying start and broke the defending champion in the opener’s games one and five for 4-1 in under 20 minutes. Nadal reduced the deficit with a break in game six, and McDonald fended off a break point at 5-4 to bring the set home.
The second set saw back-to-back breaks in the early stage, and Rafa got broken again at 3-3. The American landed an ace in the eighth game to confirm the advantage, and the Spaniard asked for a medical timeout on his left hip.
Rafa left the court to receive the treatment and held in game nine to prolong the set despite an apparent struggle. McDonald brought the set home after Nadal’s forehand error at 5-4 and moved closer to the finish line. Rafa continued and gave his best in the third set despite struggling to run or hit a backhand.
He fired an ace on a break point at 4-4 and held to stay in contention. Mackenzie leveled the score at 5-5 and placed a backhand down the line winner in the next one to grab a decisive break. The American landed a service winner in game 12 to seal the deal and dethrone the Spaniard.
Nadal withdrew from Doha and Dubai, and his fans await his decision about Indian Wells and Miami.
Rafael Nadal back at practice on… CLAY.
A clue about his presence at Indian Wells and Miami?
(via @Nadal_Fr) pic.twitter.com/A1Quviawjo — We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 28, 2023
