Rafael Nadal acknowledges he ‘needs’ to accomplish 4 things after losing his first match since Wimbledon
Borna Corcic defeated Rafael Nadal in three sets in his first encounter back from injury at the Cincinnati Masters.
After being knocked out of the Cincinnati Masters by Borna Coric, Rafael Nadal seems to focus on four areas where he needed to improve.
Nadal fell 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 6-3 against the world number 152 in his first encounter back since retiring from Wimbledon with an abdominal ailment, subsequently confessing he’d only managed two practice sets in the previous 40 days.
The setback dashes the Spaniard’s aspirations of competing at full strength at the US Open later this month, where he will attempt to capture his third Grand Slam of 2022. And this despite an injury-plagued season in which he missed several weeks after suffering a fractured rib in his last loss to Taylor Fritz at Indian Wells.
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He subsequently battled his long-term foot condition to win the French Open, despite requiring a series of painkiller injections during the event, before suffering an abdominal problem that forced him to miss his semi-final against Nick Kyrgios at SW19.
And the ring rust was on full display against Coric, with both players saving two set points during a long first-set tie break that was finally won by the Croatian.
Nadal reacted by earning the first break point of the match in the second set and even the match, before giving up an early break in the third as Coric ended well to win.
Following that, the icon appeared to list practice, more court time, an improved in play, and his return of serve as areas to work on before Flushing Meadows.
