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Rafael Nadal turned 36 in June last year. Despite injuries and setbacks, a reigning champion won two major titles and made another semifinal at Wimbledon, embarking on one of his most remarkable seasons at a major.
Mats Wilander hailed Nadal’s performance as a miracle after making an incredible comeback at the Australian Open after a string of setbacks and injuries and entering Roland Garros with injections. The Spaniard won consecutive Australian Open titles. Australia and for the first time in his career at Roland Garros.
Rafa reached the semifinals of Wimbledon before withdrawing due to injury, trying to win his third major title of the season in New York. Rafa was unable to challenge for a fifth US Open trophy, playing just one match after Wimbledon and struggling to serve at full swing.
Nadal lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, ending his 2022 season with an impressive 22-1 run in the majors. It was Rafa’s best tally in the majors since 2019, and it follows a serious foot injury that spoiled the second half of his 2021 season. Nadal has played just two games since his semifinal loss at Roland Garros and doesn’t know what to expect in 2022.
Rested and motivated to get back to where he was, Rafa started last season with a 20-0 record. He won trophies in Melbourne and Paris, becoming the first player to win 22 major crowns.
In search of his third consecutive major trophy, Nadal suffered an abdominal injury at Wimbledon, serving miles past his best and retired before the semi-finals with Nick Kyrgios.
Rafael Nadal has won two major titles in 2022, with 22 titles.
As we said earlier, the Spaniard played only one match before the US Open, which was insufficient to promote him. Struggling with his opening shots, Nadal lost the opening sets in the first and second rounds. Before raising your level to a winning start.
Rafa booked his place in the round of 16 after defeating his old rival Richard Gasquet. Nevertheless, Francis Tiafoe proved too strong for him at Arthur Ashe Stadium, making five breaks and pipping the 22-time Major champion with 50 winners. Rafa Nadal’s problems get worse in 2023: “Rafael Nadal has won two major titles and made the Wimbledon semifinals this year.
If you look at his season and all the setbacks and injuries, it’s a miracle. Rafa’s defeat at the US Open was unexpected, but I think his rivals knew he was not 100%,” said Mats Wilander.