Google News ATP Barcelona: Rafael Nadal will not be present
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It was announced that the Spanisg champion Rafael Nadal will not even be present at the Barcelona Open. His team said to Reuters: "Rafa will also have to give up the Barcelona tournament. We still don't know what his first clay tournament will be this year The 21-time Grand Slam champion will try to compete in the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Rome, the last major events before Roland Garros.
Nadal's goal is to reach 100% in Paris, where he will go after his 14th seal. The former world number 1 clinched the Melbourne ATP 250, gaining the confidence to break the bank at the Australian Open. In a tournament that had often been hostile to him in the past, the 35-year-old from Manacor achieved one of the most unexpected feats of his entire career.
After surviving two real battles against Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini, the Iberian came back two sets behind Daniil Medvedev in the final. Thanks to that triumph, Nadal overtook Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time rankings of the Majors.
Rafael Nadal is the author of an exceptional start to the season. Fresh from a long stop due to injury, there were no great expectations of him in these first months of 2022. Many believed that the Spaniard's career was almost over, considering that Rafa had played just seven tournaments officers last year.
As if that were not enough, Rafa also imposed himself in the prestigious Acapulco tournament. The Spaniard then reached the final in Indian Wells, yielding to Taylor Fritz in two sets. During the semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal sustained a fractured rib.
For the first time since 2005, he was therefore forced to skip the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo.