Nadal exits
Up next for Nadal: The United States Open, where he hasn’t done well since going all the way in 2013, but where he figures to forge a third trip to a Grand Slam final in the current season. He has a month and a half to prepare for the challenge. As for ge
The first day of the second week of Wimbledon saw a shakeup at the top of the men’s draw. It was always possible, of course; defending titleholder Andy Murray came in with a hip problem, World Number Two Novak Djokovic struggled with form and confidence, and third seed Roger Federer competed off a controlled schedule that underscored his advancing age. When the battlesmoke cleared, however, it was two-time champion Rafa Nadal who made an early exit, a surprising development on the heels of a resounding French Open run.
Granted, Nadal and grass don’t exactly mix, hence his so-so slate at the All-England Club in recent memory. Including his Manic Monday defeat, he has had a first-round, two second- round, and two fourth-round departures, not to mention an absence due to injury, since reaching the final in 2011. Then again, this year was supposed to be different; it was supposed to go much, much better given his level of fitness and confidence. The fact that his seeming rejuvenation coincided with Federer’s served only to highlight the possibilities — and, in the end, intensify the disappointment.
To be sure, it didn’t help that Nadal wound up going against Gilles Muller, who, if nothing else, had the distinction of beating him once before in Wimbledon. And perhaps swayed by the memory, however, distant the fellow left hander hit the ground running, claiming the first two sets and putting him on the defensive. He fought back, and gallantly, but after 28 games in the fifth and final set, he was compelled to play the role of the vanquished. His indefatigable countenance was disturbed by an inspired showing, and he ultimately proved unable to take the measure of the only player left in the tournament unpredictable enough to flummox him in the crunch. As he noted in the aftermath, “Probably was not my best match, but, at the same time, I played against a very uncomfortable opponent.”
Up next for Nadal: The United States Open, where he hasn’t done well since going all the way in 2013, but where he figures to forge a third trip to a Grand Slam final in the current season. He has a month and a half to prepare for the challenge. As for getting over the loss? Considering how he remained in the sidelines of Court One to sign autographs, and how he answered queries in the post-mortem with a touch of humor, it’s fair to conclude that he’s already past it. There will be more contests, more marathons, maybe even against Muller once more, and precisely because he’s
forging ahead.