Rafa Nadal closes 2022 with joy

MADRID, 17 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal put an end to his official 2022 season on Thursday with joy in the form of victory after beating the Norwegian Casper Ruud by a double 7-5 in his farewell to the ATP Finals that are being played in Turin (Italy).

The man from Manacor, already without options in the 'masters tournament' after his two defeats against the American Taylor Fritz and the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, greatly improved his performance and managed to return to the path of victory after an unusual streak of four straight losses.

The passing of the days was positive for the Spaniard, who could be seen looser on the court and with more firmness in his blows against Ruud who, already classified and first in the Green Group, could save something for the assault final to the title and to which both sleeves escaped in the same way.

Nadal finished the match with an important figure of 38 winners, 16 of them thanks to a serve that worked at a high level, but also with much more aggressiveness from the baseline with his 'drive' and quite effectively at the net. The 16 unforced errors were also good news.

Even so, the Norwegian tennis player did not give him too many facilities with his serve either and there was always a great equality in the match, with few opportunities for the returns. In fact, there were only five 'break' balls, two, the first of the entire clash, in favor of the runner-up in Paris and New York, which the Spaniard was able to save.

This one no longer had any more scares and he made sure to play at least the luck of the first set in the 'sudden death', but he did not need it because Ruud probably played his worst game of the entire match and with three errors gave him a 0-40 that the winner of 22 'Grand Slams' did not forgive.

In any case, the Norwegian did not leave the game thinking about the semifinals on Saturday, although the Spaniard gradually gained confidence and raised his level, especially serving with which he no longer gave concessions. Ruud also didn't until again at 6-5 down when he delivered it along with the game.