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Rafael Nadal surprised the world with his brilliant display of tennis in 2022. The Spaniard won four titles, including two Majors, the Australian Open and the French Open.
He also secured a second-place finish at the Indian Wells Masters and reached the last four at Wimbledon. However, he was forced to withdraw from his semifinal encounter against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury.
The 36-year-old, who has been married to Maria Francisca Perello since 2019, was blessed with a baby boy in October. While he took some time off from the men's tour to be with his family, he did make an appearance at the 2022 Laver Cup to compete in the doubles draw alongside his longtime rival and friend Roger Federer. It was the Swiss Maestro's last match before he called the curtains on his illustrious tennis career and an emotional moment for the duo.
Nadal also featured at the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP finals to conclude his excellent 2022 season. However, things didn't go to plan for the World No. 2 as he made early exits in both events and struggled to emulate the sharpness he displayed at the start of the year.
The Spaniard will be hoping to start on a positive note and regain his form as he defends his titles at the Australian Open and the French Open next year.
With Novak Djokovic cleared to compete in Melbourne next year and Next Gen stars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev breathing down his neck in search of silverware, it will be challenging for Nadal to hold on to his crown.
On that note, let's take a look at five bold predictions for Rafael Nadal in 2023:
5) Retaining the 2023 Australian Open
The 2023 Australian Open is set to begin on 16 January at Melbourne Park. Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will be making his return to the event after being controversially denied a chance to compete in 2022 due to his stance on the COVID-19 vaccination.
Last year's runner-up Daniil Medvedev, two-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, and Greek No. 1 Stefanos Tsitsipas will all be fighting for the men's trophy at the hard court event. Given Nadal's shaky end to the season and his competitors gaining momentum with solid results, it will be extremely challenging for the Spaniard to defend the title.
However, the 36-year-old has an amazing record at the event. He has reached the Australian Open final six times in his career and twice in the last four years. He has been crowned champion of the Grand Slam twice in his career, 2009 and 2022.
If Nadal manages to gain momentum during the first few events of 2023 and gets a few wins under his belt, he could win his third Australian Open title.
4) Losing his crown in Paris
Rafael Nadal became the oldest player ever to win the French Open singles title in 2022 and the only player in history to capture it an astonishing 14 times. The Spaniard looked in exquisite form in Paris and it will be difficult to get past him in 2023 if he stays fit throughout the tournament. The World No. 2 will surely be among the favorites to win and claim his record-extending 15th French Open title.
However, the 36-year-old faced some stiff challenges en route to the trophy in 2022. Players such as Felix Auger-Aliassime and Novak Djokovic pushed him to the limit on his favorite surface.
Carlos Alcaraz won three titles leading up to the French Open and defeated Nadal and Djokovic both at the Madrid Masters. The competition will only get tougher for the 14-time French Open winner, but his miraculous record sets him apart from the rest.
2023 could provide Nadal with his toughest challenge yet at the clay Major.
3) Nadal reaches his sixth Wimbledon Final
Rafael Nadal made his first appearance since 2019 at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. He put up an inspirational display with hard-fought wins over Francisco Cerundolo, Ricardas Berankis, and Taylor Fritz en route to the semifinals. However, the former World No. 1 was forced to withdraw from his last four clash due to an abdominal injury.
Nadal showed no signs of a dip in his form on grass and will be looking forward to competing this year. He will be up against the likes of Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner, and Matteo Berrettini, who will be among the favorites to win. However, if he comes into the tournament with some momentum, Nadal could make it to his sixth Wimbledon final.
2) Moving out of the top 6 for the first time in five years
Rafael Nadal has been ranked inside the top 10 of the ATP rankings for an astonishing 18 seasons in a row, from 2005 to 2022. He will start the 2023 season as the World No. 2 and will have more than 4000 ATP points to defend from January to June.
While we expect the Spaniard to maintain a level of consistency throughout the season, there is a possibility that he may compete less and be selective about his schedule to protect his fitness. It will be challenging for the World No. 2 to stay inside the top six and match up against other players who will be playing a full schedule.
He will be targeting Majors and select ATP events in 2023. Along with his sporadic participation, if the 36-year-old experiences a dip in form, we might see him move out of the top six for the first time in five years.
1) Retirement dates finally?
Rafael Nadal has previously hinted about retirement in interviews. Fitness has been a major concern for the World No. 2 in the last few years. He played in the French Open while being partially injured. The Spaniard was suffering from the Muller-Weiss syndrome, a rare condition that causes chronic pain in his left foot.
He numbed the injury at the French Open using painkiller injections to allow him to play. Following his win at the claycourt Major, he underwent a radiofrequency nerve ablation, which targets a specific nerve leading to a painful area of his foot.
While it has proven effective enough to allow the 36-year-old to compete at the highest level, Nadal might be forced to retire if he suffers another major injury setback. Fans and tennis lovers around the globe will be hoping that he continues for another three to four years, but the Spaniard has stated that protecting his health and taking care of his family are his major priorities.
Thus, 2023 could be the year when we receive some definite news about Nadal's retirement.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
