Rafael Nadal has been trying everything he can to recover from a nasty foot injury. The Spanish sensation had to skip the entire grass-court season, and the Olympic Games workingto get to his best fitness.
Rafael Nadal is scheduled to play 3 back-to-back tournaments during the American Summer before the US Open. After the Citi Open in Washington, the King of Clay is expected to play in Toronto and then Cincinnati.
The injury
Rafael Nadal didn’t seem to be at his very best with his movements during the Citi Open in Washington. The 35-year-old admitted that he is still struggling with his foot. Eventually, Nadal lost as early as in the third round to Lloyd Harris, but he had good news in the press conference that followed his match:
Rafa revealed:
“As I said before, best news, the foot was better than yesterday. I was able to move a bit better, so that is very important, especially for me personally, no, to keep enjoying the sport, no, and keep having energy, believing that important things are possible.
And then I need to keep improving.
Is true, no? I didn’t have honestly two months easy. I had a lot of problems with my foot. I was not able to practice all the days that I really wanted, but I did as much as I could. And I tried hard here, no?”
Where is Nadal’s play in Toronto?
There are many doubts if Rafa Nadal will play ATP1000 in Toronto next week. The Spanish Champions played only 2 matches in Washington, but they were 2 tough 3 setters. It is plausible that Nadal will take a break next week to compete only in Cincinnati before the US Open. Everything needs to be confirmed.
Rafael Nadal in 2021
Currently ranked no.3, Rafael played his last match on the 5th of August when he lost to world no.50 Harris Lloyd 6-4 1-6 6-4 in the 3rd round in Washington (draw).
This season the Spaniard has achieved a compiled 24-5 match record. The Spaniard clinched 2 titles in 2021 in Barcelona and in Rome.
Harris in Washington, ranking, and results in 2021
Now ranked no.50 (career-high), Lloyd has achieved a 20-14 record in 2021. Harris is playing in Washington where he bested Tennys Sandgren 6-4 1-0 ret. and Rafael Nadal 6-4 1-6 6-4.
Lloyd Harris will face the world no.67 Kei Nishikori in the quarter. Their record is 1-0 for Harris.
Lloyd was the runner-up in Dubai (Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships).
Rafael Nadal and Lloyd Harris fought against each other just on 1 occasion. Their head to head is 1-0 for Harris. When they played, Lloyd Harris won 6-4 1-6 6-4 in the 3rd round in Washington (Citi Open) on the 5th of August 2021.
