Chronicle.
Nadal wins for the fourth time in Acapulco.
Rafa Nadal
wakes up this Monday, February 28, as number 4 in the world.
The reason, in the intricate scoring system managed by the ATP, is that he has defended in Acapulco the points he achieved in 2020 (in 2021 he did not attend due to physical discomfort), when he was champion, while
Stefanos Tsitsipas
, champion in that 2021, He stayed in the semifinals and has lost 120 points.
Total, that the Spanish is today fourth in the ranking, although his name will not be extolled today for it.
First, because the big news in that ranking is the fall, 79 weeks later, of
Novak Djokovic
as number one, a place that already belongs to
Daniil Medvedev .
, defeated by Nadal in the semifinals of Acapulo.
And, second, because the Spanish tennis player himself has pointed out that if there is something that does not concern him, it is his place in that list of tennis players.
"Number one is far away, I don't even think about it," he said yesterday after winning the Acapulco tournament for the fourth time.
He defeated Britain's
Cameron Norrie
in the final (6-4, 6-4).
With the five he has played on Mexican soil, Nadal's balance at this start of the season is frightening.
There are 15 games played and 15 wins.
They do not know how to conjugate the verb lose in this 2022. He is two wins away from equaling some of the best starts in tennis history, some 17-0 signed by
Pete Sampras
in 1997, by Djokovic in 2013 and by
Federer
in 2018. Far The Serbian owner of the best starts in history remains: a 26-0 last year and, above all, the 41-0 that he was able to sign in 2011.
The Spaniard's plans are now to rest for a couple of weeks and face the two North American Masters 1,000 (Indian Wells and Miami) before starting the clay court tour that will take him to the Roland Garros dispute (from May 22 to September 5). June).
In any case, there are no great demands for those who enjoy one of the sweetest moments of a long career like few others in time.
Already owner of three titles in this recently started course (he has 91 since he started), he savors these days what he thought could not be.
«
The most important thing is that I have won a very prestigious tournament in the world of tennis, in which before starting there were five of the six best players in the world
.
Taking the victory here means a lot.
Looking back, all this seemed incredible, it is incredible how things change from one day to the next, from practically not being able to train to being at the moment I am, ”he declared at a press conference, reports Efe.
For a few weeks Nadal has been telling how he came to think that he could never play tennis again professionally, and how the endless weeks of work in anonymity have made him mature even more.
«
During the time I was out in 2021 I kept a good attitude and a good capacity for work
, but I would never have imagined being in the position I am in right now.
I am happy and enjoying every moment », he said.
In addition, he was pleased to have been able to with the British Norrie, one of the "fittest" tennis players today.
“It was not my best match of the tournament.
It is one more title to add to my career.
My serve has worked well tonight.
The sensations have not been the best, but not bad either, I have played professionally », he stressed.
Finally, Nadal reflected on his behavior on the court and off it.
"No one is exemplary in every way, we all make mistakes, the important thing is that they are not too big and not repeat them."
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