After one of his poorest years on the tour ever, this year looms larger for Rafael Nadal than it does for almost any other top player.
On Friday evening, he began the year as he often does, at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships (MWTC) in Abu Dhabi, where he is a two-time winner. And he gave himself the chance to become a three-time winner on Saturday, by beginning his season with a victory.
Standing in his way will be the big-serving, evolving Milos Raonic. The Canadian beat Stan Wawrinka 7-5 7-5 in the evening’s second semi-final.
Last year was the first in eleven years where Nadal did not win a single grand slam title; he did not even go beyond the quarter-finals of the four majors. Amid continuing scrutiny of his form and future, a major title this year would go a long way to dampening those doubters who feel the end of one of the greatest players ever is nigh.
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And his Friday win was a good early obstacle to overcome: the win did not come easy at all, but come it did in front of a cheery and sizeable New Year’s Day crowd at the Zayed Sports City. The victim was a familiar one, his fellow Spaniard, Davis Cup teammate and a regular opponent over the years, David Ferrer.
Nadal triumphed in three sets 6-3 6-7 6-3 and at two hours and 23 minutes, it was the second-longest match in the history of the event.
It was an intense, but immensely entertaining match: clearly no one had sent the memo to the protagonists that this was an exhibition tournament season-opener, and it marked Nadal’s first win in three matches against Ferrer at Mubadala.
“The season has started very well,” Nadal said. “The first match of the season and the rhythm and intensity of the game was like after six months of the season. We played a great match, and both were happy about how we played.
“Happy with the way we moved, the way we competed, we tried our best. The people enjoyed and for me it is important to start with a victory and tomorrow a chance to play again.”
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His form, he said, was as much a result of his off-season work as it was, simply, a continuation of the upswing in his performances during the second half of last year (a run which brought him back to No 5 in the rankings).
In stark contrast, Raonic’s match with Wawrinka was a much flatter affair. Wawrinka imploded suddenly, while serving for the first set at 5-2. He proceeded to lose 12 of the next 17 games, to be knocked out in an hour and a half.
Raonic, on his MWTC debut and another player whom many will keep an eye on this year, beat the South African Kevin Anderson on Thursday and was impressive again against Wawrinka.
“It’s been great so far [in Abu Dhabi],” Raonic said. “It’s a great way to start the new year and getting to play two top five guys on two days is all you can ask for at the start.”
Nadal, though, will be a different beast altogether and given his circumstance, likely a far more focused opponent. It will be his first final here since January 2011.
“I’m ready to play the final,” Nadal said. “Now it’s time to enjoy the [semi-final] win. After a few years of not winning these semi-final matches, it’s great to be back in final. I’m going to try my best to be ready for tomorrow.”
Wawrinka and Ferrer will play off for the third and fourth places first on Saturday.
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