Nadal produces superb level to finish 2022 season with a victory
ATP
After a sensational start, Rafael Nadal's 2022 season went downhill, so he needed a big win to finish it at the last ATP event of the year.
Ahead of his final match at the 2022 ATP Finals against Casper Ruud, the Spaniard was on a four-match losing streak, something that isn't usual for him.
He lost to Frances Tiafoe at the US Open, Tommy Paul in Paris, and Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime beat him at the ATP Finals in Turin. Despite all the losses, Nadal was determined to finish the 2022 season with a win over one of the players from his academy, Casper Ruud.
For both players, this was a dead-rubber match. While Ruud had his semi-final spot already secure, Nadal couldn't qualify for the semi-finals, as he lost both of his first two round-robin matches.
In the first set, both players produced a solid level as it appeared that it would be decided in a tie-break. However, in the ninth game, the Norwegian had two break points, and he had a chance to finish the first set early. He couldn't do that and later gave his opponent a chance in the twelfth game.
Nadal didn't need more than one invitation as he used his very first break point to win the first set 7-5. The second set appeared to be identical, as fans in Turin expected a tie-break this time around.
Yet, once again, the 22-time Grand Slam champion increased his level when needed to beat Ruud 7-5, 7-5 in an hour and 44 minutes. Overall, the Spaniard hit 16 aces in the match and 38 winners while producing only 16 unforced errors.
He won 93% of points after his first serve and produced an extraordinary level to finish his season. Next year, Nadal is expected to defend his title at the 2023 Australian Open.
