(Melbourne) On his return after five months without competition and eight days before the start of the Australian Open (January 17-30), Rafael Nadal qualified for the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Melbourne on Saturday, where he will face the newcomer Maxime Cressy (112e and from qualifications).
Stopped since his semi-final lost at Roland Garros last June – with the exception of two games played in early August in Washington – because of his recalcitrant left foot, then contaminated by COVID-19 at the end of December, Nadal , now world No. 6, is reassured “step by step”.
He defeated the Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (95e) 6-4, 7-5 in nearly two hours on Saturday, two days after his first vintage 2022 victory against Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (104e) 6-2, 7-5. Between the two, his other opponent, the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (65e), has withdrawn.
“It’s a big comeback for me after six months without competition. There are of course things I need to do better. After a long absence, we are still a little worried about what might happen, but my body holds for now, appreciates the Spaniard with 20 Grand Slam trophies – like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. I have already known all that, I know how to do it and I know that you have to be patient ”.
In the other semi-final, Cressy surprised the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28e) 7-5, 7-6 (11/9) and is invited to the final for the first time in his career, at 24 years old.
On the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Nadal will aim for an 89e Sunday title.