That raises the stakes from a historical sense. Yet Nadal is feeling relief this year because he believes he is playing in Melbourne with a tennis version of house money.
The events of the past year meant that he was always going to approach this summer on a speculative basis, with or without his two great rivals in the tournament.
The Spaniard was flattened by COVID-19 before Christmas, with the infection leaving him bed-ridden and shaking when at its worst.
Of more concern to his career was the recurrence of a foot injury that sidelined him for all bar one hardcourt tournament in an aborted comeback bid in August.
It has troubled him since he burst onto the tour with a flurry of forehands as a teenager almost 20 years ago. So, to be playing another grand slam is a bonus, even if it has proven the least successful one of his career.
Nadal is feeling relief this year because he believes he is playing in Melbourne with a tennis version of house money.
“I’m excited about the fact that I’m going to be playing in a third round for one more time here after all the things that I am going through,” he said.
“I don’t feel (any pressure). The pressure now is only to stay healthy and to enjoy the fact that I am competing again, then give my best as I did during all my tennis career.”
Nadal was asked whether he had modified his footwork in a bid to stop the foot problem from flaring. At least one respected analyst believes he may be sliding less than usual.
The 35-year-old did not comment specifically on this, but said that if he maintained his fitness, he would consider some technical adjustments.
“Of course, in my mind, [the thinking] is to play a little bit more aggressively, but the main thing is to stay healthy, more than any other thing,” he said.
Nadal was clinical as he progressed to the third round.Credit:Eddie Jim
“If I’m able to play more matches in the next couple of months, I hope to be able to play better and better and to be able to improve a couple of things.”
The tests will become tougher. He faces either Karen Khachanov, a Russian who has been ranked inside the top 10, or Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi next.
Nadal has won all six encounters against the Russian. But the last four sets they played at the US Open in 2018 and at Indian Wells a year later, were decided in tiebreakers.
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Nadal clinical with straight sets win in pursuit of history
Source: Philippines Alive
