Rafael Nadal has been a player to beat so far in 2022, winning all 15 matches and lifting three ATP titles. The 21-time Major winner played only two encounters in the second part of the previous season, struggling with a foot injury since Roland Garros and doing his best to recover and play competitive tennis again.
The fellow Spaniard Jose Higueras believes that Rafa is a more complete player than ever before. The older Spaniard praised his compatriot as a hard-working person that always finds a way to improve his game and remain at the top for years.
After a tough 2021 season that saw him staying without a Major final, Rafa turned the tables at the beginning of the new season, despite not knowing much about his physical shape. The Spaniard claimed the ATP 250 event in Melbourne for his first crown since May last year.
With a boost on his side, Nadal secured the second Australian Open crown and the record-breaking 21st Major.In the title clash, Rafa trailed 6-2, 7-6, 3-2, 40-0 against world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev. The more experienced player remained composed and produced an incredible comeback in a 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory in five hours and 24 minutes!
Feeling well physically, Nadal was ready for another test in Acapulco in February, seeking the fourth title in Mexico. Rafa continued where he left in Melbourne and produced his 91st ATP title and a 15-0 start in 2022. Nadal defeated the American trio of Denis Kudla, Stefan Kozlov and Tommy Paul to find himself in the fifth Acapulco semi-final.
There, Rafa faced the newly-crowned world no. 1 Daniil Medvedev and scored a rock-solid 6-3, 6-3 triumph in two hours.
Jose Higueras praised Rafael Nadal and his will for improvements.
The Spaniard fended off all 11 break points for the first time in a career and controlled the pace on a high-bounce court to set the title clash versus Cameron Norrie.
Nadal ousted Norrie 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 54 minutes to lift the season’s third title much earlier than expected. Rafa served at 79% and got broken twice from five chances offered to his rival. Cameron also played against five break points and lost serve four times to hand the trophy to a 21-time Major winner.
Rafa claimed the opener with a single break and raced into a 5-2 lead in set number two. The Briton moved back to 4-5, fighting hard and hoping to prolong the encounter. Still, Nadal sealed the deal in game ten for his fourth Acapulco crown, 17 years after winning the first as an 18-year-old.”At this stage of Rafa’s career, I would say he is a more complete player than ever.
If he is not the most complete player on the Tour, he is certainly at the very top. If you follow his entire career and matches, you will notice he always does something better than on the previous day, introducing things he never had before. If that was something he had in his arsenal in the past, he is doing that better now,” Jose Higueras said.
