Rafa Nadal failed to overcome Alex De Minor’s hurdle, lost 2-0 and was eliminated from the next Barcelona Open.
The Italian tested Nadal’s endurance, attempting several drop shots in order to “run” the 37-year-old Spaniard. In the first game he “broke” Nadal’s serve and made it 2-0 while maintaining his own. Nadal followed the rhythm, he also broke and led 5-4. At that point De Minor took back-to-back crucial points to take the first set.
The second set started with Nadal 1-0. De Minor equalized and never looked back, winning the next 5 sets to take the match in one hour and 52 minutes. Nadal, leaving the court, which also bears his name, experienced apotheosis from the world.
The Spanish former world No. 1, now ranked 644th, returned from a three-month absence due to injury and has since won 5 matches, losing 2. Nadal’s goal is to build momentum ahead of the French Open, in which he is also a multiple-winner 14 conquests.
“It’s not like today I had to give it all up and… die. I have to give myself the chance to do that in a few weeks (at the French Open) or at least try,” he said.
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