Despite a huge track record, the Spaniard has never won the masters tournament.
This is one of the most notable inconsistencies in tennis. Rafael Nadal, 92 career titles, including 22 Grand Slams, never won the last tournament of the season, the one that should have sealed his coronation several times, the ATP Finals. From Sunday 13 November, in Turin, the Spaniard will try his luck again to break this curse. Rather in the skin of the student than in that of the teacher.
As always, Nadal is not looking for false leads to explain his lack of success at the Masters. “I wasn’t good enough to do that in the past,” she said on Friday, during Media Day. So I’ve just accepted it and I’m happy to give myself another chance at the age of 36, something, for me, was hard to imagine. few years ago”.
The playing conditions of this tournament, indoor and very fast surface, are not enough to explain that the tournament refuses him like this. First of all, there are of course the packages. As “Game Set and Maths” reminds us.in 16 potential participations, the Manacor Bull bent his spine 6 times, entering the arena only 10 times.
It is known, and he the first, Nadal’s game is particularly demanding from a physical point of view and the latter often pays the fruits of his dissolute efforts at the end of the year. And, when he finally does get to try his luck, he’s rarely in full possession of his means. It is therefore certainly here, at the Masters, that the Spaniard suffered some of his biggest disappointments. In 2007 he was sent back to his studies by Roger Federer in 59 minutes, the second fastest defeat of his career.
Another crime of lese majesty, the 2009 edition saw him disappear from the tournament without having won a single set! He is the only player in history, seeded number 1 or 2, to have experienced such infamy. However, it is not for lack of having tried year after year but, even in this case, the statistics are cruel to those who are more accustomed to playing the role of the executioner than that of the victim: Rafael Nadal is the only competitor to have won more of 12 career Masters matches without ever lifting the cup. A two-time finalist, he clashed with his two arch rivals: Roger Federer (2010) and Novak Djokovic (2013). When he doesn’t want to smile…
However, he continues to do it. Though her second half of the season was far less flamboyant than the first, slowed down by physical setbacks and his fatherhood, he’s keeping the faith. “I need training, I need improvement, but I’m happy. I’m here to do my best and try to achieve my goals.”
By a confluence of circumstances, the Majorcan could also kill two birds with one stone if he ultimately wins in Turin where, if need be, he would reclaim the world number 1 spot as a bonus. Does he really need it to motivate himself? Certainly not. But time is running out and the Spaniard doesn’t have many opportunities left to erase this stain from his record. And finally become commander on board.
