2022 certainly represented Rafael Nadal's last great season at the highest level, although he continued to play until the end of 2024. Injuries have prevented the Spanish legend from competing as he has wished in recent years and his farewell tour has fallen short of expectations, including his last official event at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last November.
The former world No.1 received a stunning tribute at Roland Garros this year, further strengthening his bond with a tournament in which he wrote unforgettable pages of tennis history. Rafa lifted his last two Grand Slam tournaments in 2022, when he left the whole world speechless by winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros despite his physical problems (especially in his foot at that time).
Giron on facing RafaNadal
In particular, his success at Melbourne Park where he had only triumphed in 2009 impressed fans and insiders like few other feats in the history of sport. In the first round of that edition of the Happy Slam, the legend from Manacor defeated the American ace Marcos Giron in three fairly clear sets.
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Interviewed on the latest edition of the 'Changeover' podcast, Giron recalled that clash against the 22-time Grand Slam champion on the iconic Rod Laver Arena: I actually think he doesnt hit the ball as hard as you would expect, h*t take, said Giron. I think his positioning every time he gets to the ball, youre like, Oh f***.
The American tennis player also added: Like okay, so before youre like hes going to hit every ball to your backhand. Youre like, Okay, hes going to lift my backhand. But then as he gets sets up youre like, Oh f*** is he going to go forehand line? Oh s*** no, of course he doesnt. He rolls it back. And so youre like, Oh, one step farther back. And then he sets up and youre like, Okay, yeah. Oh f***, is he going to go forehand line again? No, no, no, of course not.
