Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni explains why Grand Slams are easier to win for the Spaniard than ATP Finals
Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni Nadal recently gave his thoughts on the 36-year-old's quick exit from the ATP Finals in Turin last week.
Nadal brought the curtains down on his 2022 season with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Casper Ruud in his last group stage match of the year-ending championships. The World No. 2 had a season of two halves; he captured his 21st and 22nd Grand Slam titles during the first half of the year before being sidelined by injuries in the second half. And despite his best efforts, he only managed to win one match at the ATP Finals and Paris Masters combined.
Rafael Nadal has famously never managed to win the ATP Finals title, despite making numerous attempts over the years.
According to Toni Nadal, if a player makes it through the first week of a Grand Slam, they have a better chance of winning the event in the second week since they would have played a few matches and got some momentum under their belt. The ATP finals, however, work differently as players start their campaign by taking on some of the best players in the world right from the first game.
"It is very difficult," Toni said. "When you arrive at a Grand Slam it is not the same problem because you have had a few matches. If he can pass the first week then in the second week he can win the tournament. But here it is not the same because in the first match, you play against one of the best players in the world, and then it is too difficult."
"When he arrived at the Australian Open, for example, he did not play too good in the first game, the second not too good, in the third the same, then better and better," he added.
Rafael Nadal to play in Latin American exhibition tour
Rafael Nadal will go on an exhibition tour of Latin America from November 23, along with his young protégé Casper Ruud and a few other players from various countries.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will compete at six venues across six different nations, starting in Buenos Aires before and going on to Belo Horizonte, Quito, Bogotá, and Santiago. On December 1, Nadal and Ruud will be in action in Mexico City to round up the tour.
The duo will first face off in a singles match in Buenos Aires. After that, they will play a mixed doubles match, where Ruud will pair up with former doubles World No. 1 Gisela Dulko and Nadal with former singles and doubles World No. 3 Gabriela Sabatini.
The 36-year-old will then compete in Santiago against World No. 87 Alejandro Tabilo before locking horns again with Ruud in Belo Horizonte, Quito, and Bogota.