Not on the pace and often overtaken in exchanges, Rafael Nadal (ATP 3) did not send the best signals to Cincinnati, 12 days before the US Open. The man with 22 Grand Slam titles was eliminated in the second round by Borna Coric (ATP 152). The Spaniard lost 7-6 (11/9) 4-6 6-3 to the Croatian following 2h57 ‘game for his return following 6 weeks of absence.
Nadal had not been beaten since his entry into the running since the fall of 2016, in Shanghai. He had not played since July 6 due to an abdominal tear, which had forced him to forfeit before his semi-final at Wimbledon.
“He played better. But it’s hard to take a lot of positive things out of this game. I have to train, I have to return better, that’s the truth”he agreed, without hiding his disappointment. “I had chances in the tiebreak and I played very badly. When you come back from injury, if you win the first game, things get better – that wasn’t the case today.”
Rafael Nadal thus committed big faults at the worst times, like this forehand too uncrossed which spoiled a set point in the tie-break, and this double fault which then offered the 1st set to rival . Only positive point, he did not complain regarding the abdomen, nor regarding his left foot.
ats/adav
