"Work, work, work, no shortcuts for him before he comes to NYC"- Tennis fans elated to see Rafael Nadal practicing in Cincinnati ahead of US Open 2022

Despite losing in the first round of the 2022 Western & Southern Open, Rafael Nadal has stayed back in Cincinnati to continue his practice, sending his fans on social media into a frenzy.

Rafael Nadal made a comeback at the Cincinnati Open after pulling out of his semifinal clash against Nick Kyrgios at the Wimbledon Championships due to an abdominal tear.

He was up against Borna Coric in the second round, in what was expected to be an easy opener for the Spaniard. However, his injury comeback didn't go as planned as the Croatian upset the 22-time Grand Slam champion by beating him 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3 in three sets.

His loss notwithstanding, the 36-year-old made the decision to stay in Cincinnati to get better prepared for the 2022 US Open, which begins on August 29 and runs till September 11.

In a video posted on Twitter by the tournament's officials, Nadal can be seen practicing his footwork while striking lengthy double-handed backhands and forehands. He also hit several slice shots, a shot that will come in particularly handy at Flushing Meadows later on.

Tennis fans expressed their excitement on Twitter in light of this, with the majority of them praising the Spaniard for his wise choice to remain in Cincinnati and practice before the commencement of his stint at Flushing Meadows.

One user thought it was a smart decision taken by Nadal as the courts in Cincinnati are similar to that of the US Open, and wrote:

Another user praised Nadal for practicing hard and taking no shortcuts before traveling to New York City to compete in the Hardcourt Major, and tweeted:

However, according to another account, the Spaniard is simply trying to assess his fitness to compete in the US Open.

"He has taught me how to have this never die, never give up spirit" - Novak Djokovic on his relationship with Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic might be each other's fierce rivals on the court, but they share a beautiful bond off the court. Speaking in a 2020 interview with Graham Bensinger, Djokovic expounded on his friendship with Nadal, claiming that the Spaniard taught him how to have a "never give up" mindset.

He continued by saying that since they both serve as role models for future generations, they respect one another despite their rivalry on the court.

About the author

Pritha is one of the driving forces behind Sportskeeda's tennis coverage, serving as an assistant content manager and editor. What began as a casual escape from her tiring biotechnology degree course in early 2022 has blossomed into a passion she loves, cherishes, and breathes every day.

Pritha’s love for the sport was spawned by her dad who showed her clips of "GOAT" Steffi Graf’s matches. Despite a thwarted dream of playing professionally due to injury, she finds solace in reporting the sport, while also mentoring other writers to ensure every article is error-free and top-notch. She double-checks credible sources, such as the tournament/player handles and big tennis media outlets, and gives proper credit where required.

Pritha's journey at Sportskeeda is marked by more than 2000 articles and close to 16 million views, with the "dream-come-true" moment of having her article shared by Chris Evert serving as a highlight of her career. A lifelong Wimbledon fan, Pritha also adores Rafael Nadal, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka.

When she's not seeking unique angles to elevate tennis coverage at Sportskeeda, she loves to channel her inner astrophysics "nerd" by exploring new sci-fi series and movies. A big Lionel Messi, Lewis Hamilton, and Randy Orton fan, she is always ready to engage in sports conversations anytime, anywhere, albeit not without a cup of coffee.

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