Rafael Nadal: What Can We Expect from the Spaniard When He Returns?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: October 25, 2012

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Rafael Nadal has been absent from tennis since July, when he was stunned by then-World No. 100 Lukas Rosol at the second round of Wimbledon. The rest of the tennis world has moved on admirably well without the player who was ranked No. 2 before his lengthy layoff.

Andy Murray shed the label of being unable to play in big matches; the Scot made the finals of Wimbledon, won the Olympic Gold Medal and then, after losing four previous major finals,  finally captured the U.S. Open last month.

Roger Federer, considered by many to be in a downfall, played brilliantly en route to a seventh title at the All-England, as he was able to avoid a showdown with nemesis Nadal.

Still, tennis needs him to come back. The Spaniard, now ranked No. 4, is expected to return for an exhibition tournament at Abu Dhabi in late December. 

Rafa's matches are always very high quality, and he has been a part of great rivalries with fellow top players Federer and Novak Djokovic. Many fans are impatiently awaiting Nadal's return to see what he can do after missing such a long period of time.

In 2012, Nadal played well before Wimbledon, winning Roland Garros for the seventh time and proving that he is second to none on clay court. He seemed more intent on taking over points when he was facing Djokovic, who had punished Nadal in 2011, capturing all seven of their head-to-head meetings.

 

Rafa took three consecutive matches from the Serb after dropping a five-set classic in Melbourne in January 2012. He was clearly playing some of his best tennis when not serving, as Rafa, despite playing 33 less matches than Djokovic, still had three more return games won, and his 38 were the best on tour.



However, outside of the clay-court season, Nadal was not at his best. He only made one final (Australian Open) and lost before the semis in both his grass-court appearances.

Na...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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