Rafael Nadal is preparing for the upcoming 'Six Kings Slam' exhibition in Saudi Arabia. The 22-time Major winner will compete for the first time since the Olympic Games, facing Carlos Alcaraz or Holger Rune in the semi-final.
The veteran hit the court at home in Mallorca, hoping to practice without issues in the upcoming weeks and perform well in the forthcoming high-profile exhibition. Nadal withdrew from the US Open, remaining at home and spending time with his family.
The Spaniard is eager to compete again before ending the season, entering the Spanish Davis Cup squad in Malaga. After a stellar run in the first half of 2022, Rafa lost the ground in the second part of the season due to injuries.
The legend wrapped up the season as world no. 2 but without form, competing at the 2023 Australian Open with dark clouds above his head. Nadal injured his left hip in the second round, undergoing surgery in June and missing the rest of the season.
The 22-time Major winner left the top-600 after over two decades, starting from the bottom in 2024. The Spaniard returned to action in Brisbane in the opening week and defeated two rivals.
Rafa wasted three match points against Jordan Thompson in the quarter-final, losing in three and a half hours after a massive battle. He felt the pain around his troubled hip and skipped the Australian Open, not risking anything after the most extended break of his career.
Nadal headed home and practiced ahead of Doha and Indian Wells. However, he suffered an abdominal injury, staying away from the court until April and embracing more setbacks. Rafa withdrew from Monte Carlo and entered the Barcelona draw, competing for the first time in 100 days.
The king of clay lost in the second round on the court that carries his name and moved to Madrid. The four-time Caja Magica winner played better and scored three victories for the first time since September 2022.
Rafael Nadal trains in Mallorca ahead of the 'Six Kings Slam' exhibition.
Nadal fell in the fourth round and suffered an early Rome Masters loss to Hubert Hurkacz, taking a couple of games and not liking his Roland Garros chances.
They became even smaller when he drew world no. 4 Alexander Zverev in the first round. Two rivals battled for over three hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and the German scored a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 win, delivering the Spaniard's earliest loss at his beloved Major.
The 14-time winner wasted his chances in the second set and fell in the third, experiencing his fourth Roland Garros loss. As was expected, Rafa stayed away from the grass swing, staying on clay and training in Mallorca and Greece.
Nadal recovered his game and traveled to Bastad, entering the ATP 250 event for the first time since winning the title in 2005! It was the king of clay's last preparation ahead of the Olympic Games, and he played his best tournament since Wimbledon two years earlier!
Rafa battled past four rivals, reaching his first ATP final in over two years and becoming one of the oldest clay-court finalists in the Open era. The veteran endured a four-hour marathon against Mariano Navone in the quarter-final and grabbed another hard-fought win for a place in the title clash.
However, he did not have much left in the tank versus the first-time ATP finalist Nuno Borges, taking five games and missing a chance to lift his first ATP trophy since June 2022. Losing a lot of energy, Rafa traveled to Paris and started preparation for his fourth Olympic Games.
The veteran experienced another setback, injuring his right thigh and playing with a bandage. Nadal made a winning start in singles and found the magic in the doubles draw alongside Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard failed to chase a medal after meeting the doubles specialists in the quarter-final, and Rafa could not chase his second singles gold medal.
He beat Marton Fucsovics in the first round and arranged his 60th meeting with Novak Djokovic.
The Serb was the favorite and proved that on the court with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 43 minutes, ending the Spaniard's Olympic Games journey.
Novak toppled Rafa on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the third time in a career, following a fine display, taking ten of the opening 11 games for a massive 6-1, 4-0 advantage. Eager to fight back, Nadal rattled off four games and locked the result at 4-4 before Djokovic sealed the deal with another break and a fine hold.
Novak was the only player in the opening set, dominating on serve and return and wrapping up the first part of the duel in style.
The Serb carried on that form and grabbed two early breaks in the second set, marching toward his most dominant clay-court win over the most significant rival.
Rafa ended his downfall and pulled both breaks back, hitting with more pace and using the crowd's support. Djokovic stayed focused and generated four break chances in the ninth game, converting the last with a drop shot winner and serving for the win at 5-4.
World no. 2 hit two winners for 30-15 and landed a service winner for two match points. He converted the first with an ace, defeating Rafa for the 31st time in 60 encounters. As was expected, Nadal could not say much about his plans following a tough loss, although he indicated the US Open withdrawal.
He missed the last Major of the season and the Laver Cup, and we should see him in action in Saudi Arabia in a couple of weeks.
