2022 in Review: Rafael Nadal struggles with injury and falls in Rome

Rafael Nadal lost to Denis Shapovalov from a set up at Foro Italico

2022 in Review: Rafael Nadal struggles with injury and falls in Rome

Rafael Nadal could not chase his 11th Rome masters title. Rafa fell to Carlos Alcaraz in Madrid and experienced an early loss at Foro Italico following a 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat to Denis Shapovalov. Denis prevailed in two hours and 37 minutes after a fine performance in the decider to leave the king of clay with dark clouds over his head ahead of Roland Garros. Nadal skipped Monte Carlo and Barcelona and did not play at his best in Madrid and Rome. The Spaniard claimed three wins at his favorite events and did not know what to expect in Paris. Last year, Nadal defended two match points versus Shapovalov in Rome. The Canadian served revenge this time, keeping his focus in the second set and dominating the decider to seal the deal. Rafa struggled with a foot injury, and things did not look good for him ahead of Roland Garros. Denis won three points more than Rafa, fired 13 aces and defended seven out of 11 break points. Nadal got broken five times, three in the final set, when he could not stay in touch physically.

Shapovalov had a clear edge with 35 winners and 39 unforced errors, firing 30 service winners and doing everything right at the net. There was nothing to separate them in the shortest and more extended rallies. Denis saved his best tennis for the most crucial parts of the clash to find himself in the last eight. Nadal was the only player on the court in the opening set, serving well and delivering two breaks to control the scoreboard. The Spaniard drew first blood with a backhand down the line bullet in the opener's fourth game. Denis earned a break chance with a volley winner in the next one and squandered it after a loose backhand. Nadal fired a forehand crosscourt winner in the sixth game for a break chance and claimed another extended exchange to secure a break and open a 5-1 gap. Serving for the set in game seven, Rafa fired a service winner for 6-1 in 42 minutes, looking more than fine so far. The Canadian survived three break points and seven deuces at the beginning of the second set to gain a boost.

Rafael Nadal lost to Denis Shapovalov after losing ground in the final set.

He broke Nadal in the second game after the Spaniard's backhand error and cracked a forehand down the line winner in the next one for 3-0. Denis forced Rafa's mistake in the fifth game to defend a break point and closed it with a forehand down the line winner for 4-1. Not giving up, Nadal earned three break chances in game seven and grabbed the first after Shapovalov's loose forehand for 3-4. The Spaniard denied a break point in game eight with a volley winner at the net and saved another with a service winner. Denis sprayed a backhand error after a couple of deuces to bring Rafa back to 4-4. The Canadian placed a deep return in game ten and created a set point with a forehand crosscourt winner. Nadal saved it and squandered and held with a backhand down the line winner that locked the result at 5-5.

From 30-0 up in game 12, Rafa lost four straight points on his serve. He sprayed a backhand mistake to hand the set to his rival and seal his fate in this match following his physical state! Shapovalov hit a wild forehand at the start of the decider to lose serve and broke back in the next one after Nadal's loose backhand. Rafa leveled the score at 2-2 after two hours and 20 minutes, but it was all we saw from him. Nadal barely continued after the fifth game, and Shapovalov broke him at love in the next one to open a 4-2 gap. Denis fired an ace in game seven for a hold at love, taking 12 straight points and moving closer to the finish line. Shapovalov placed a backhand winner in the eighth game for match points and converted the third after Nadal's backhand error to score a notable win and move into the last eight.