The U.S Open kicks off on Monday, but will be without its defending champion Rafael Nadal. The world No.2 will be sorely missed. Here are five, of many, reasons why.
1. Nadal is the defending champion and the tournament will miss either his successful defense or the drama of another player knocking him out.
Nadal is not a natural hardcourter, and has had to adjust and improve his game to be as successful on the surface as he has (three hard court slams, 9 ATP 1000 titles). It was amazing to watch him clean up at last year’s US Open series, and it would have been, considering his struggles this year, fascinating to see how he handled defending his title.
Matches featuring defending champions at slams also have another edge to them– the drama of their possible defeat. As defending champ, they are the man to beat, and when they do get beat, the crowd gets into it, and the atmosphere is electric. It is also a situation we have not seen Nadal in too often. He has won most of his slams, eight of 14 at Roland Garros and has successfully defended that title six times.
2. That forehand. One of the great shots in tennis (along with Djokovic’s backhand and Federer’s serve), it really comes alive on hard when he is on form. Hit heavy and with spin, it bites through the court, and if spectator’s could eat it, it would taste delicious. Take a look at this video to remind yourself of what you will be missing:
3. No first US Open showdown with Roger. Nadal leads Federer in slams 8-2, but they have never met at the US Open, a surface that should favor Federer and where Nadal has struggled at times.
This match up brings out the best, and at times, the worst in both players, and with Federer on the rise, and Nadal struggling this season, this potential match-up in New York could not have happened at a more fascinating time. It won’t happen though, not this year, and tennis is the worse for it. Federer, though, might be better off, however, but that’s another article.
4. His best game. Nadal has brought some of the best tennis of his career to the U.S Open. Remember in 2010 when he turned up serving the best he has ever done in his career?
He also brings out the best games in his opponents. Players like Juan-Martin Del Potro, Mikhail Youzhny, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have had to play some of their best tennis to get past him.
5. The intensity he brings to matches. The photo above says it all. Few have the toughness and intensity of Nadal, and the U.S Open will miss what he brings to every match.
However, it is not all one way traffic on the missing front when it comes to the U.S Open and Rafael Nadal. There is one big thing Rafael Nadal will miss about the U.S Open. This:
With 14 slams on his record, and 3 shy of Federer’s tally, Nadal will watch on as his rivals compete for the trophy. And it will hurt as much as the injury that has turned him into a spectator. One who the U.S Open will miss greatly. And the feeling will be mutual.
Commentary by Christian Deverille
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