Sidelined for almost eight months due to a knee injury, Rafael Nadal has made a stunning start to his comeback to professional tennis. The World No. 4 has won three titles in the four events he has so far participated, ever since his long-awaited return to ATP tour on 5th February. The only loss the Spaniard experienced in the 18 matches he has played this season was in the finals of the Chile Open.
Earlier in January, Nadal had planned to make his comeback at the Australian Open but all plans of return were to be halted as the 11-time Grand Slam Champion was struck down with a stomach virus a fortnight before the first Major event of the year started.
Nadal’s first title victory came on the clay courts at the Brazil Open in Sao Paulo where he defeated former World No.3 David Nalbandian in the finals. Nadal had also partnered with the Argentine for the doubles event in the same tournament but withdrew in the early stages so as not to give much pressure on his knees.
Two weeks later, Nadal won his second title in Acapulco when he overcame compatriot David Ferrer in the finals of the ATP 250 event.
While Nadal’s previous win at the Brazil Open and the Mexico Open were taken as a sign of return to good form, many felt the former World No.1 had not been really tested as the two tournaments he won were devoid of top players, though Nadal did overwhelmed World No. 5 David Ferrer. Many were looking forward as to how the Spaniard would perform on the punishing hardcourts of the Indian Wells Masters which would also feature the top-3 players in the world.
However, Nadal’s latest win at the BNP Paribas Open has blown away all the doubts skeptics had of the Mallorcan-born player and has also reaffirmed himself as the leading player as the leading player to beat at the Roland Garros in late May.
Nadal’s campaign at Indian Wells was closely observed. The Spaniard’s pulsating 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro has proven to all that the 26-year-old means business and is yet again ready to take on all the best in the world with a never-say-die attitude.
Nadal had also beaten 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the semifinals on his way to his first Masters crown in almost ten months.
However despite all, Nadal still has to play against the best in the world today. The Spaniard will only be heralded as the King once again only when he tests himself against his great rival Novak Djokovic. Furthermore, the Spaniard will have to test against Andy Murray as well to see how far can his body cope up with long and physically demanding matches. Once again, Nadal will have a chance to achieve this when the European clay season starts.