Rafael Nadal is paying the prize for being too eager to be back on tour.
The Spanish no.1 has just ended a marathon last week in Rio, and he wanted to give it a shot in Cincinnati. After playing an extremely good opener against Cuevas, the world no.1 had to bow to 19-year-old Borna Coric in straight sets. Rafa looked completely spent to seek for medical attention on-court after losing the opener 6-1.
Rafa lost ten consecutive games after being 1-0 up to trail on a horrible 1-6 0-4 scoreline; he tried to bounce back in the second set, but he had not much more to give. The final result was 6-1 6-3 with Nadal winning just 35 points vs. Coric’s 58.
Now I pay. NADAL
After the match, Rafa was well aware that he tried too much to comment “Now, I pay. He didn’t give me many chances. He was playing his serve huge. I need to be in better shape to compete.”
Then Rafa was asked if he was too eager to be back. He replied: “I am a tennis player. I want to play tennis. I spent enough time at home.”
Coric will play either Berdych or Cilic for a place in the semi-finals.
Can Nadal regain his form for the US Open?
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Until next year…#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/BXuHUGEF5B
— W&S Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2016
| THE DRAW |
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| HIS TIME IS COMING |
