ATP Finals, Group Stage, Tuesday, 15.11.2022
He won it all! How often do you read this sentence about Rafael Nadal, the man who won the most titles at Grand Slams in the history of tennis. Admittedly, the Spaniard is nothing more than a legend.
But: All won? In fact, this is not the case! The curse of the ATP Finals, it still weighs on him. On Tuesday he will play his second match in Turin. Since he clearly lost the first one, there is incredible pressure on him.
Why is he listed as an outsider at Bet365 and why I expect a close duel, maybe even in three sets? You can find out now in my Nadal Auger-Aliassime tip!
Many injuries, tasks, missed tournaments, surprisingly strong comebacks of short duration and as a private highlight becoming a father for the first time? Rafael Nadal has certainly not had a quiet year 2022.
The veteran has fulfilled a big dream and now leads the list of Grand Slam successes all by himself. Although he had been injected several times, it was enough to pick up the trophies in Melbourne and Paris.
Wimbledon? This tournament went to someone else, because Nadal had to pack his things before the semi-finals. The body went on strike, including at the US Open, where he was eliminated in the second round.
In the media it became public: Nadal cannot, in addition to all the physical ailments, play freely, one reported health problems of his wife. The Spaniard made an exception, leaving home at the end of September to say goodbye to Roger Federer at the Laver Cup.
After the 36-year-old became a father for the first time, he wanted to present himself from his best side in Paris. A plan that didn’t work out. The 6-3, 6-7, 1-6 against Tommy Paul ended all dreams right at the start.
And so it happened that the bookmakers in Turin acted very skeptical about him. His first match was one he just wants to forget quickly: a 6-7, 1-6 against Taylor Fritz.
Not once could he secure a break chance, the American was clearly inferior to him. So will the curse continue and Nadal won’t be able to win the finals in 2022? Only twice, most recently in 2013, did he reach a final at all.
2.20 to 1.60, in fact, the Spaniard has to get used to the role of the underdog on Tuesday. Will the knowledge of having defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in both head-to-head duels help him?
In 2019, when the Canadian was only 18 years old, the victory was clear, but a few months ago at the French Open, Auger proved to be the most persistent of all competitors. 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, only in the final set the decision was made!
The debutant at the unofficial tennis world championship would love to involve Nadal again in such a close encounter, but the pressure is also great for him. Although he had gone into his first game as the favourite, there was nothing to gain.
A surprise for many, including me personally. Auger-Aliassime had to deal with Casper Ruud. The Norwegian fell further and further in recent weeks, recorded numerous early retirements.
And yet, the 22-year-old did not manage a victory, losing narrowly with 6-7, 4-6. After Auger-Aliassime won an incredible three titles after the US Open and also reached the semi-finals in Paris, this was not necessarily to be expected.
Ruud pulled his serve ice-cold, Auger did not have a single chance to break. He himself gave up only one opportunity, but Ruud used exactly that to succeed. In the end, it was a match at eye level, in which bad luck wore the Canadian colors.
Now Auger-Aliassime has to show that he can handle such difficult situations as a real top player of recent weeks. Should he lose to Nadal, his first finals were an extremely brief pleasure.
It’s about nothing less than everything, whoever loses, probably flies out! Rafael Nadal couldn’t convince me on his first appearance, plus the finals just don’t seem to be his competition.
How does Felix Auger-Aliassime deal with his defeat? The Canadian was chased by bad luck against Casper Ruud, played much better than Nadal against Taylor Fritz. However, he is known as a player who does not always have his nerves under control.
I assume that Nadal will brace himself against another bankruptcy, but I think Auger-Aliassime is currently the stronger player. A quick result? I exclude this and thus type:
We experience at least 22 games!
