After a quite impressive 2020 season, Rafael Nadal is ready for the challenges in the upcoming season. Fans last saw Rafa at the ATP Finals 2020, where Daniil Medvedev defeated him in the semis. However, the 20-time Grand Slam is back at training sessions and has begun his preparations for the Australian Open 2021.
After the 2020 season, Nadal went on a vacation with his wife Mery Perello to the Bahamas Islands. His childhood friends also accompanied him on the trip, and this was a rejuvenating time for the Spaniard. However, he is back on the court now, something he informed his fans about through Instagram.
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“Back to work! I took a few days off after London and now back to the practice and routines,” wrote Nadal on Instagram after updating his picture.
The Australian Open 2021 is now just a month away and Nadal surely wants to bring his muscles back into their position. He looked quite determined and energetic in the picture, as if he was sending a warning to the other players.
What the Australian Open 2021 means to Rafael Nadal
There have been ups and downs in the journey of almost every player. However, what would hurt Nadal the most is his record at the Australian Open. Despite some remarkable performances, the Spaniard has failed to win the Grand Slam since 2009.
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Since 2009, Nadal has played four finals at the Australian Open and lost all of them. The last one was in 2019 when the World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated him straight sets to lift the title. In the last season, Dominic Thiem eliminated him in the quarter-finals.
What’s even more intriguing is that if Nadal manages to win the Australian Open title this time, he’ll become the first player in the Open Era to win the four Grand Slam on two occasions each. Nadal surely will be aiming for that and will come back strong in Melbourne. Fans will expect him to win the title this time and move past Roger Federer in the Grand Slam tally.
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Also Read: Rafael Nadal asserts why emotional stability is important for a tennis player