'Awkward' problem facing Nadal at Aus Open

1 year ago 104

Aussie tennis large Wally Masur has warned that Rafael Nadal could perchance look a first-round exit astatine the Australian Open aft a scratchy tally into the tournament.

Nadal has been uncharacteristically retired of signifier truthful acold this summer, losing to some Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur astatine the United Cup portion representing Spain.

The reigning champion heads into the archetypal expansive slam of the twelvemonth arsenic the No.1 effect successful the men's draw, and volition look Great Britain's Jack Draper archetypal up, a information antheral according to Masur.

"He'll request to beryllium connected opus beauteous aboriginal due to the fact that Jake Draper is successful signifier and he's an awkward hostile successful the archetypal round," Masur said connected Nine's sum of the draw.

Masur added that Nadal has tweaked his crippled since suffering the abdominal wounded that cruelled the backmost fractional of his 2022 play pursuing wins astatine Melbourne Park and Roland-Garros.

"It was that tummy teardrop astatine Wimbledon ... and helium ne'er truly recovered, helium won 1 lucifer astatine the US Open for the backmost extremity of the year, truthful it wasn't the Rafa that we're utilized to," helium said.

"He's struggled astatine the commencement of 2023. We caught a small glimpse of him astatine the United Cup and it's beauteous evident what he's been moving connected successful the off-season.

"He's trying to beryllium a spot much offensive, shortening the points, serve-and-volleying astatine the net, truthful it'll beryllium absorbing to spot however that works retired for him."

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