Back then, at Blau-Weiss Neuss, they had the right instincts. A small delegation from the then Bundesliga tennis club followed in 2002 manacor on Majorca flown to pay Rafael Nadal an official visit to his hometown. An acquaintance had informed the former Blau-Weiss chairman Matthias Stechmann that there was an exceptional talent there. The then 17-year-old Nadal signed for two games – and if you will, a career started from that point on that nobody would have thought possible in this form.
In the early morning hours on Monday (January 31, 2022, local time), the now 35-year-old knelt on the hard floor of the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, stretched both arms in the air and seemed incredulous, surprised, overwhelmed, overjoyed and maybe a little overwhelmed by himself. “I don’t even know what to say. This is just incredible and fantastic”, Nadal said as he stood at the microphone at the awards ceremony.
Hidden power reserves
There was, of course, the great joy about the 21. Grand Slam-Title – after all, no player had ever achieved that before him. But there was also something like astonishment about his own body, about his own achievements, which he probably could no longer have imagined in this form.
Nadal fought against the 25-year-old Daniil Medvedev for almost five and a half hours, was two sets behind and still won in the end. Such a match comeback he last succeeded in 2007 in the fourth round of Wimbledon. in one Grand Slam-Finale there had not yet been such a return. It took a little miracle that day – Nadal pulled it off.
“I am destroyed”
And that although Nadal did not know until shortly before the tournament whether he could continue his career at all due to a chronic foot injury. He hadn’t been able to compete in a tournament for about four months and then he slowed down before the trip down under also a corona infection. “I still don’t understand how I stuck it out. I’m devastated”, Nadal said when the early morning was already further advanced.
In addition to the many congratulations, Nadal also received very special greetings via social media from an old opponent and friend. “Never underestimate a great one champion. Your attitude and fighting spirit are an inspiration to me and countless others around the world.”, Roger Federer announced to the Spaniard and to the whole world. The respect for this triumph could be read in Federer’s every word.
The Spaniard will be asking himself how often he can cope with such exertions in the coming weeks and months. Because the Grand Slam-Tournaments demand the pros with the Best of fivemode in two intensive weeks each physically and mentally. In any case, Federer believes that Nadal “can achieve even more”.
optimism prevails
With Nadal himself, the first doubts seem to have matured in the past few weeks. Before the tournament he said it would definitely be his last Australian Open. But now, after this fantastic and unexpected triumph, optimism prevailed. “I will do my best to come back next year”said Nadal.
Either way. The great talent from little Manacor has become a world star in his career, like not many. The spectacular victory in the Australian Open was only the last proof that Nadal is a real exceptional athlete.
And by the way, he also won his two Bundesliga matches for Blau-Weiss Neuss.
As of: 01/31/2022, 12:22 p.m