Analysis: Whatever Nadal’s future holds, his legacy’s secure
PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal’s standing for Wimbledon is doubtful due to a power downside along with his left foot — as is his future in tennis. What’s safe, it doesn’t matter what occurs now, is his legacy.
Nadal bought by way of the French Open, he defined after a dominating 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Casper Ruud in Sunday’s ultimate earned a 14th championship at Roland Garros and 22nd Grand Slam title total, because of the assistance of a sequence of numbing injections in his foot.
That, he says, was a one-time deal.
“I don’t wish to put myself in that place once more,” Nadal mentioned after changing into, at age 36, the oldest champion within the historical past of a clay-court event that was first held in 1925. “Can occur as soon as. However no, it’s not a philosophy of life that I wish to observe.”
And he allowed a bit of perception into what does make him tick.
It’s not, he mentioned, as he’s mentioned earlier than, an all-consuming need to complete with extra main trophies than the opposite members of the so-called Massive Three of males’s tennis, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. (Nadal presently stands two forward of his rivals, who each are at 20.)
“It’s not about being the perfect of the historical past. It’s not in regards to the data. It’s about: I like what I do. I wish to play tennis. And I just like the competitors,” Nadal mentioned.
“What drives me to maintain going is the eagerness for the sport, to stay moments that keep inside me eternally,” he added, “and play in entrance of the perfect crowds on the earth and the perfect stadiums.”
So whereas he needs to have the ability to maintain going, and would admire the prospect to play on the All England Membership, the place the grass-court Slam he has received twice begins three weeks from Monday, he’ll solely accomplish that if his physique permits.
Nadal, who introduced a health care provider with him to Paris, goes to spend the subsequent week attempting new therapies, hoping to discover a approach to ease the ache in his foot.
If that doesn’t work, he might want to ponder having surgical procedure.
“After all, my tennis profession has been a precedence throughout all of my life, however by no means has been a precedence over my happiness (in) life. So issues are going to maintain going that approach,” he mentioned. “If I’m nonetheless capable of be joyful enjoying tennis with the issues that I’ve, I’m going to maintain going. If I’m not ready, I’m going to do different stuff.”
Both approach, Nadal’s place within the historical past of tennis — and, certainly, the historical past of sports activities — is solidified.
Due to the entire approach he has lorded over the French Open and crimson clay, sure. And, positive, due to the profession Grand Slam he owns and, for now at the least, the lead within the males’s main trophy depend. Don’t overlook the Olympic medals and the time spent at No. 1 within the rankings, both.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the entire numbers. There’s additionally this: Nadal by no means appears to take some extent off, by no means appears to let an on-court state of affairs daunt him, by no means offers in or offers up.
“He stepped up, and he confirmed that when he must, he performs nice,” mentioned Ruud, who seemed to be each bit as overwhelmed by the state of affairs and setting as by his opponent.
“He’s a participant I’ve watched on TV for the final 16, 17 years. So to be there myself and face him, it’s a little bit of a problem, as effectively, however a really pleasant one,” Ruud mentioned after his debut in a Grand Slam ultimate at age 23. “Yeah, in fact, I want I might make the match nearer and all these items, however on the finish of the day, I can hopefully in the future inform my grandkids that I performed Rafa on Chatrier within the ultimate, and they’ll most likely say, ‘Wow, did you?’”
No matter may come subsequent for Nadal, he wants to determine what’s finest for him, his foot, his happiness.
If he decides there’s no repair for the ache that wouldn’t come at too nice a value, he’ll transfer on. His imprint on the game will stay.
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis author since 2002. Write to him at hfendrich@ap.org or observe him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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Extra AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
