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Rafa Nadal facing the biggest challenge of his career
Rafa Nadal facing the biggest challenge of his career.
Should we be alarmed with Rafa Nadal? The Spanish tennis player has started the season adding two defeats (against Cameron Norrie and Alex de Miñaur ) in two games played in the United Cup, to which must be added another three defeats and a single victory since he said goodbye to the last US Open. Balance that falls short, both in filming and performance, to start in 2023.
Nobody knows Rafa better than himself. That is why things are said when they are not going well. “I have a brutal level of mistrust,” he said during the third set against De Minaur in his second match in the United Cup. He is not comfortable because he has no rhythm, but he sees himself as capable of overcoming the situation.
Nadal indeed turned 36 last June, but we must not forget that a year ago things looked even worse. In August 2021 he said goodbye to the season under the real threat that his battered foot could withdraw him. He returned in December, contesting the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi where he chained another two losses (to Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov ).
“I don’t like to compare each year, since you never know what can happen, but a year ago at this time, it seemed impossible to imagine what happened next. Today it seems difficult for it to happen again,” Nadal analyzed these days from Sydney. Miracles go against logic, but with Rafa, you can never rule anything out.
“I’m not too alarmed or negative about what has happened, but I need to be quicker to read the ball better. That’s what gives you confidence in the game. There was a very real chance of losing these two games, last year as well. I lost those in Abu Dhabi. I have an important space to improve, I think I can achieve it”, he added.
Rafa Nadal facing the biggest challenge of his career
The difference compared to last year is that Nadal has less time to face the big goal, the Australian Open. He then chose to play the ATP 250 in Melbourne in the first week of January, which he would win after beating three tennis players and benefiting from Griekspoor ‘s withdrawal in the quarterfinals.
This time he used the United Cup card, but the bet did not work out for him. He has barely played two games and against De Miñaur he did it with nothing at stake. The positive thing is that both were rivals of height (among the 25 best rackets in the world) and he managed to start by winning the first set in both matches.
Heading to Melbourne
“I’ve spent almost six hours on the track, but I need more”, was the final summary that Nadal made after saying goodbye to the United Cup. After Spain‘s participation in the United Cup ended, Rafa left Sydney to plant his settlement in Melbourne. There he meets Carlos Moyá again and has practically two weeks ahead of him to physically crush himself and practice with other tennis players.
There will be no more competitive matches, although on the 11th he is scheduled to participate in Melbourne Park along with other tennis players such as Carlos Alcaraz -who travels to Australia this Saturday- in an exhibition under the name Tennis Plays for Peace.
Nadal’s team has everything calculated and within what is possible everything is following a progressive line. This was stated by Dr. Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro, RFET and Nadal’s doctor, this week from an act: “It’s fine, in the progression phase, because it’s what you need when the year has ended without rhythm.”
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The message is clear: Nadal is having “good games and is feeling well.” It is time to finish preparing and gain that point of confidence that will allow him to perform those geniuses to which he has been accustomed throughout his career.
Tsitsipas threatens No. 2
Nadal will be present as the reigning Australian Open champion in the draw for the draw that takes place on Thursday the 12th. He will do so as the second seed unless Tsitsipas and Greece continue their winning streak in the United Cup. The Greeks have won the three games they have played and will play the semis against Italy, a tie in which they will presumably meet Matteo Berrettini. Ganar le dejará a solo 5 puntos de Nadal en el ranking ATP, con la posibilidad abierta de adelantarle en el siguiente partido.
Losing number 2 would put Nadal in the first-seeded Carlos Alcaraz’s side of the draw. The draw will present other big dangers, especially that of Novak Djokovic back in Australia. Last year, due to his deportation, he could not compete in the Grand Slam against Rafa, but he left us one of the greatest feats in tennis with his comeback against Medvedev in the final. Miracles.
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H. Marko lashes out at Steiner: Defend Mick Schumacher
Helmut Marko believes Mick Schumacher deserves a return to Formula 1, naming two teams he thinks would consider the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. The 81-year-old Austrian lashes out at Guenther Steiner, who sacked the German at Haas F1 just under two years ago.
“Mick is one of the politest and nicest people in the whole paddock, which is a disadvantage for him. He also has the handicap of a big name,” Marko said in an interview with Sport1.de. “In sporting terms, he has already achieved a lot. He won the Formula 3 championship, he won the Formula 2 championship, that alone made him interesting for Formula 1 teams.”
Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut at Haas F1 in 2021. There, he lasted two seasons. After a disappointing season in 2022, Guenther Steiner showed him the door and they opted for more experience with Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
Marko: ‘Netflix superstar’ Steiner treated Schumacher unfairly
“As far as we were concerned, there were no sporting reasons why we never got together,” Red Bull Racing’s team advisor explained. “He was a Ferrari junior at the time, but Mercedes took him into the team [afterwards]. So he wasn’t even on the market.”
“At Haas, he was not treated fairly by Netflix superstar Guenther Steiner. That’s a fact. Once you drive outside Formula 1, it becomes a difficult story. But behind the scenes, you only hear good things about him. Toto Wolff praises him to the skies. I think Alpine and Audi are seriously considering him. I wouldn’t begrudge him, because he deserves it,” Marko said.
Verstappen and Hamilton CRASH as FIA take action in Hungary
Max Verstappen was involved in a dramatic collision with Lewis Hamilton for P3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman attempted an overtake on his rival into Turn 1, going though the inside but locking up as Hamilton’s front right collided with Verstappen’s rear left.
In dramatic fashion the Red Bull was launched into the air, and was lucky to remain in the race, falling behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen has been placed under investigation by the stewards, with the FIA calling a 4.50pm UK time summons, where the sport’s governing body confirmed their findings.
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Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash in Hungary
A nightmare Hungarian GP for Max Verstappen
It was a difficult race for the champion who went wide on the opening lap, and was forced to give the position back to Lando Norris after claiming P2.
The Red Bull star accused the Brit of running him wide, and continued to deliver a series of furious radio messages to his team during the grand prix.
Verstappen’s frustrations came to the fore as he attempted to overtake Hamilton, with the pair lucky to not be embroiled in more devastating contact.
In the end Hamilton claimed P3 and a podium in Hungary, with Verstappen languishing back in fifth.
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“It’s going to be emotional for me” – Chase Briscoe on honoring Tony Stewart’s legacy
Chase Briscoe, in a recent media session, shared his emotions about racing on the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Briscoe will be driving the No. 14 car, a number famously associated with his current team owner, Tony Stewart.
Stewart won several races and the 2011 championship with this car. He also co-owns NASCAR team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), which will be shutting down after this season.
NASCAR first raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in 1994, which was the first race there besides the Indianapolis 500 in 1916. Since then, many different racing series have raced at IMS. As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Brickyard 400 after three years off, Chase Briscoe, who grew up in Mitchell, Indiana, faces an emotional weekend.
“It’s going to be emotional for me, I mean full transparency I cry every year just on the ride around deal so with it being on the oval and doing it in the 14 all that it’s going to be definitely, probably emotional,” said Briscoe.
“It’s really special to be back here at home in Indiana. Every race car driver dreams of racing at Indianapolis, but for me, it’s even more special because I grew up here,” he added.
Chase Briscoe eyes playoff spot and #14 legacy
A win this weekend will help Chase Briscoe secure a spot in the 2024 Cup playoffs. It would also be a fitting end to SHR’s legacy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Briscoe has raced at the Brickyard before, twice in the Xfinity Series and won on the road course layout in 2020.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get a chance to race on the oval. So being able to do it this year means a lot to me,” Briscoe stated.
The #14 car has a special place in NASCAR history. After Stewart retired in 2016, Clint Bowyer took over and won two races in 2018. Chase Briscoe then drove the #14 in 2021 and earned his first win in 2022. Other notable racers like Fonty Flock, Hershel McGriff, and A.J. Foyt, also drove this famed car.
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