Rafa Nadal’s 2022 is difficult to explain, even for himself. Four months before the Australian Open, he uploaded a photo on crutches to his social networks; now, he already accumulates three titles in a row. To the aforementioned Grand Slam, the historic tiebreaker with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and the ATP 250 in Melbourne, the ATP 500 of Acapulco is added (double 6-4 to Cameron Norrie), his fourthafter also winning it in 2005, 2013 and 2020, equaling Thomas Muster and David Ferrer in the tournament record. With 15 wins in a row, the Spaniard reaffirms his best start to the season everis two of the 17 of Pete Sampras (1997) and Roger Federer (2018), and ratifies his reign without end. At the foot of the track, he valued everything.
The final: “Very difficult conditions. (Norrie) is a very solid player. You cannot play comfortably. I have had very difficult moments, but I have taken advantage when I could. It is a very important title and I am very happy.”
Acapulco: “It’s a very special tournament. I always notice the affection of the people of Mexico. It’s a wonderful stadium and environments like this are very important for our sport. Thank you very much to the organization.”
Congratulations to Norrie: “Cameron, congratulations for these two weeks and for playing in this final. It is very difficult to play two in a row and you deserve great recognition, for you and for your team, full of progress.”
magical 2022: “It is a pleasure to have the entire team present here, as well as relatives who have traveled. Thank you to them and to those I have in Mallorca. It is incredible to start 2022 like this, it seemed unimaginable. It seemed impossible and it is thanks to all of you” .
Fourth title: “This is my fourth title. I came here as a child and I have fantastic memories of each time. It is one of the places where we players feel better treated. You make us feel at home. Lastly, thank you to the ATP, the sponsors, volunteers, chair umpires and, above all, the public. Without you it would not be possible”.
Pandemic and public: “We’ve had difficult years without being able to play in front of you and I had missed you a lot. I hope we’ll see each other again soon. Thank you very much.”
In the subsequent press conference, Nadal extended his impressions and spoke a little more about the game, his career and the experiences in Acapulco.
The acting: “It was not my best match of the tournament, but looking on the positive side, against one of the best in recent times, I was winning 6-4 and 5-2 and serving to win. This means that my level is still very high “Norrie makes you feel like you can’t play comfortably, that’s why he has this projection. It’s a prestigious win in a 500. My serve has worked well and apart from the 5-2 game, which was bad, I’ve played with job in many moments, because it was a final and sometimes you have to find the moments to give the claw. What I did best was win and take advantage of them. I was good there. I come with a positive dynamic that helps”.
Forces to continue: “No one is exemplary in every way. We all make mistakes, the important thing is that they are not very big and that they are not repeated. I really like what I do and we tennis players are lucky. I feel super lucky. I have made one of the hobbies from when I was little a job, and on top of that I have been very successful. It would be very ungrateful to have a more negative attitude than necessary or break rackets. There are many people who have a hard time, I cannot be angry and not value luck I have. I received this kind of education, these powerful values that stay with you for the rest of your life and I have grown in them. I have had the capacity for self-control. I have not been a person who feels very special when things are going well or when things are going well. go wrong. I try to maintain an intermediate emotional state, calm, and see things in a very relaxed way. From there, try to extend this as long as possible and enjoy it to the fullest”.
Leader in victories in Acapulco: “This type of record must be valued when one finishes the race. The important thing is that I have won a prestigious tournament in the world of tennis, this year with five of the six best in the world. Taking the victory here means a lot. Putting the Looking back, this seemed incredible. It’s amazing how things change in such a short space of time. Going from not being able to train to being where I am. I never would have imagined it. I’m happy and enjoying myself”.
The body and time: “I’m fine, I haven’t lost a set in the entire tournament and the first two days were fast matches, then more closely contested, but physically I felt good, although the humidity is very powerful and you suffer in these types of conditions. I responded well. It’s been a long career, when I came the first time everything was new to me and perhaps victories are more valued now than when you’re 18 years old”.
Acapulco: “In my career there are many tournaments that have left an important mark, and I have fantastic memories of this place. I have achieved very good results here and I trust that it will be a place where people will have good memories of me when I no longer can come back. When this dream that I’ve been living for many years comes to an end, I’ll carry it in my heart”.