There was no doubting Rafael Nadal’s dedication and want throughout his first assembly with a top-10 participant in a single and a half years – however the nice man was discovered wanting as he bowed out of the Italian Open.
Nadal’s surgically-repaired hip and his 37-year-old legs simply did not present him with the required means to be aggressive on Saturday as world No.9 Hubert Hurkacz overpowered the 22-time grand slam champion on his beloved clay for a 6-1 6-3 victory within the third spherical.
Nadal, nonetheless regaining his health after lacking almost all of 2023 with a hip harm that required surgical procedure, appeared sluggish at occasions and lacked the previous ruthless edge when making an attempt to complete off factors.
Twice within the first set, Nadal missed drop shot makes an attempt at hand Hurkacz breaks of his serve.
Then early within the second set, he lacked oomph on a backhand volley, permitting Hurkacz to answer with a forehand up the road that clipped the web and landed in for one more break.
On the changeovers, Nadal sat hunched over, sweat dripping from his headband and deep in thought for options that he could not discover.
Nadal hadn’t confronted a top-10 participant since beating No.4 Casper Ruud on the 2022 ATP Finals and is aware of he’ll should dig deeper on the apply court docket if needs to be aggressive one final time on the French Open, the place he’s the file 14-time champion.
In the meantime, world No.1 Novak Djokovic reported he was “positive” after unintentionally getting hit on the top by a water bottle whereas signing autographs after his opening win on Friday.
However Djokovic wasn’t taking any additional probabilities when he confirmed up on the Foro Italico for apply on Saturday, placing on a biking helmet when he met with followers once more.
