The Worst Defeat – Rafael Nadal has a negative data against US players
The defeat against Tommy Paul at the ATP Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 allowed insiders to extrapolate a curious fact about Rafael Nadal. For the first time in his career, the Spaniard lost three times to American tennis players in the same season.
Number 2 ATP was defeated by Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final, in which he was not at his peak due to a rib injury. Subsequently, he lost to Tiafoe at the US Open. Before this year, Rafa’s last defeat to an American was in the 2017 edition of the Acapulco tournament, when he surrendered to Sam Querrey.
“A lot has happened in the last few months, but I don’t need to make excuses. The reality is always the same. If you play well, you win. If you play well, you lose. On this surface it is difficult to think of winning if you don’t do things.
Nadal in Paris-Bercy
The triumphs at the Australian Open and Roland Garros allowed Rafael Nadal to hoist himself to 22 Slams, stretching over Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the all-time ranking.
Despite the pain in his foot, the Spanish star has won his first 21 games this year and has reaffirmed that he is a living legend. In the second half of the season, injuries returned to hinder him. A tear in the abs prevented him from playing the Wimbledon semifinal against Nick Kyrgios, as well as influencing his approach to the US Open.
The former world number 1 did not go beyond the round of 16 in New York, succumbing in four sets to a wild Frances Tiafoe at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 36-year-old from Manacor took a long hiatus after the US Open, also due to the birth of his first son Rafael.
The Majorcan played in the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, but his race was interrupted already in the second round against Tommy Paul. The American won with the score of 3-6 7-6 6-1, taking advantage of the dramatic decline of the Iberian in the second part of the match.
