Rafael Nadal , the 22nd time Grand-Slam Champion defeated American Tommy Paul in the first set at the Paris Masters on Wednesday, but he lost the match 3-6 7-6(4) 6-1 despite delivering his signature, and ferocious forehand strokes.
Rafael Nadal was playing his first singles match since the U.S. Open fourth round.
The Rafael Nadal 9 years on, produced another magical spinning forehand in Paris! yet he could not muster a win.
The reactions were interesting too: Rafa got breadsticked by Tommy Paul 😂 🤣. Escaped from meeting Nole on a non clay court once again 😂 🤣. Hopefully they end up in the same group for the tour finals.
Another one tweeted : Tommy Paul won. He made two passing shots at the beginning of the match more incredible than this one that Nadal produced.
Rafael Nadal shock defeat to Tommy Paul at Paris Masters 2022
The defeat blocked Nadal’s aspirations of regaining the number one ranking from Alcaraz this week.
Before the Paris Masters, Nadal along with Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic already qualified for the eight-man tournament in Turin from Nov. 13-20.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz, Tsitsipas, Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti also advanced to the third round in Paris, while Nadal’s 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 loss to Tommy Paul raised questions about his fitness in his first singles match since the U.S. Open.
The second-seeded Nadal made 19 unforced errors to 18 for Paul and dropped serve three times in the final set, almost looking resigned.
“At the end, I need days on the tour,” Nadal said. “It’s true that for the last five months I didn’t spend enough days on the tour. I don’t even say competing on a tennis court. I say on the tour. Practicing with the guys. That’s what I need.”
