Rafael Nadal was defeated 5-7 4-6 by Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of the Madrid Open last Tuesday. This was the 37-year-old Spaniard’s final appearance in the tournament held in the Spanish capital. It is only the second time Nadal has failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open. Despite the disappointing exit, there are several positive takeaways from his performance in Madrid.
Nadal won his first three matches at the Madrid Open, an impressive achievement for someone who will turn 38 next month and has hardly played competitive tennis in the past year. He defeated top-10 player Alex de Minaur, exacting revenge for his loss to the Australian in the Barcelona Open last month. He also beat American teenager Darwin Blanch and Argentina’s Pedro Cachin in three sets.
Typically, Nadal has not performed as well in Madrid compared to other major European clay tournaments; thus his performance can be considered a moderate success at this point in his career. His fitness issues appear to be improving, as he has played five matches since withdrawing from the Monte-Carlo Masters due to injury. While his speed and movement have decreased, he can still hold his ground against younger opponents.
Nadal’s powerful crosscourt-backhand and precise forehands show that he is not yet finished. His net skills and occasional ability to take the ball early have also been impressive, although his court coverage has suffered due to decreased mobility. Lehecka’s powerful forehand presented a challenge, but it remains to be seen if Nadal will participate in the Italian Open next week before playing in the French Open. The best-of-five format at Roland Garros may be a concern at his age, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion can be trusted to give it his best shot, and he and his team will work to ensure success at the French Major.
