Rafael Nadal will begin his Australian Open title defense on Monday at Rod Laver Arena. Rafa will face British youngster Jack Draper in the first round, facing a tough test and hoping to claim his first win in 2023. Battling injury, Nadal has lost seven of their previous 11 meetings after last year’s Wimbledon. , including a 0. -2 point in 2023.
Rafa arrived in Melbourne early and started preparing for the first Major of the season. The Spaniard has trained with Alexander Zverev, Hubert Hurkacz, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton, shaping his game and hoping for a better run than in the previous seven months.
Nadal is not happy with the balls in Melbourne, calling them very different from a year ago. Rafa thinks they lack the amount of spin you can create, they lose pressure after a couple of shots and make things easier for those with flatter shots.
Rafael Nadal is not happy with the balls of the Australian Open.
Nadal claimed his second Australian Open crown last year, winning almost out of nowhere! The Spaniard missed the second part of 2021 through injury and did not know what to expect at the start of 2022.
However, he stopped the clock and lifted his first Australian Open trophy in 13 years. Nadal survived challenges from Karen Khachanov and Denis Shapovalov and ousted Matteo Berrettini for a place in the final. Everything was set for Rafa’s fifth straight Australian Open final loss after losing 6-2, 7-6, 3-2, 40-0 against Daniil Medvedev.
The veteran stayed focused and prevailed 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in five hours and 24 minutes to become the first player with 21 Major titles. «There are few changes in court speed compared to the previous year.
However, the balls feel very different. The organizers say that they are the same, but surely they are worse in terms of quality and durability. It’s too late to talk about it now; it is what it is, and we must use them. The balls do not receive the same amount of spin as before.
They lose pressure after a couple of hits and it’s hard to hit a proper spin. It’s easier for those who take flatter shots, but I have to live with that. I’ve had enough practice to be ready,» Rafael Nadal said.
