Nadal and the devastating data after his last ‘resurrection’ in Brisbane

“He is not at the same level as before, so I do not see him as a rival to win a Grand Slam. I think he can be competitive and that it will be difficult to win on clay, but it all depends on his health,” said the former coach of Venus and Serena Williams. Rick Macci in an interview given to ‘Tennis Infinity’.

Certainly, there are many doubts about the performance of the champion of 22 Grand Slam titles, however, there are reasons for optimism. It is not the first time that Nadal returns through the front door after overcoming serious physical problemsand the latest precedent in Brisbane shows us a devastating fact.

The year was 2017 and Nadal was beginning a difficult season. He came from a 2016 to forget in which a wrist injury forced him to withdraw in the third round of Roland Garros and miss Wimbledon. He reappeared at the Rio Games, where he came close to winning a medal in the individual tournament (in doubles he won gold with Marc López).

The end of the season was a real ordeal for the Balearic Islandswho did not go beyond the quarterfinals in any of the tournaments he played (eighth in Cincinnati, US Open, quarterfinals in Beijing and second round in Shanghai).

After his defeat against Troicki in the Chinese Masters 1000, he decided to say enough and end his season. It was early October and a three-month rest and recovery period was beginning with the goal of returning to Australia in January.

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The chosen tournament, as in 2024, was Brisbane. Things didn’t go well at all. The inactivity took its toll on him and he bowed out in the quarterfinals after losing to Milos Raonic, but his ‘resurrection’ was in process.

Two weeks later he arrived in Melbourne to reach the final of the Australian Openwhere only a very inspired Roger Federer managed to leave him without a title after a spectacular final that was decided in five close sets.

In February Nadal played the Acapulco tournament, where he also reached the final. In March he met Roger Federer againwhich left him out, both in the round of 16 at Indian Wells and in the final in Miami.

The sensations were getting better and better and that was reflected in a clay court season to frame. He arrived at Roland Garros after winning in Monte Carlo, Godó and Madrid. The wear and tear took its toll on him in Rome, where he lost in the quarterfinals against Dominic Thiem, but that defeat allowed him to arrive in Paris full of joy to give an authentic tennis exhibition that allowed him to win the crown again after a tournament in which he did not give up a single set. .

The second half of the season did not start well for Rafa, who lost in the round of 16 at Wimbledon and Montreal, and in the quarterfinals at Cincinnati. But Everything changed when he arrived in New York. There he once again displayed his best tennis to brilliantly win the US Opena tournament to which the Beijing tournament was added weeks later.

The good form continued in Chinese lands, where they also reached the Shanghai finalwhere once again Federer acted as the ‘black beast’.

His withdrawals due to injury in Paris-Bercy and the ATP Finals did not overshadow a dream season which resulted in two Grand Slam titles, two Masters 1000 and two ATP 500 tournaments, in addition to four other finals reached. Some dream numbers that many did not expect after the ordeal experienced the previous year due to injuries.

Will history repeat itself? For now, all we know is that It will all start in the same place: Brisbane.