Rafael Nadal loses one-set lead and match to Norrie to start 2023 season
ATP
Rafael Nadal began his 2023 season at the United Cup, but it wasn't a victorious start for the Spaniard.
Nadal started the 2023 season as a father, and that's why he could enjoy having his wife with his child in the stands during his practice sessions. That family support, however, seemingly couldn't help him in his first match of the new season.
Soon, Nadal will defend his title at the Australian Open after sensationally winning the tournament in 2022. To prepare for the Grand Slam in Melbourne, he chose to compete in the United Cup, which is a team competition.
In the first round-robin match, Spain took on Great Britain, and the 22-time Grand Slam champion's first opponent was fellow leftie Cameron Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2022.
Nadal started the match better, as he was the first player to break. He led 4-2, but keeping that lead wasn't easy. In the following game, the Spaniard had to overcome a 0-30 deficit and face a break point.
Nadal survived, leading 5-2, and after both players held their serve, the Spanish player won the first set of the match 6-3, seemingly marching towards a victorious start of the new season.
But Nadal wasn't so successful in the second set. He had only one break point, which he couldn't use, while his opponent had seven and used one of them to win the second set 6-3 and level the score after an hour and 38 minutes of play.
The deciding set was about efficiency. Both players had three break points, and while the British player could use his chance, Nadal couldn't do so and ultimately lost the match 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.
Since the United Cup is a team competition, Spain can still beat the United Kingdom as it was only the first match of this tie. In the women's singles match, Nuria Parrizas-Diaz will take on Katie Swan.
