‘If Rafael Nadal Doesn’t Have That, He’s Dead’- King of Clay Gets a Concerning Reality Check

Rafael Nadal has entertained us with great performances throughout his career. One of his major advantages over other players on tour is his physical strength. The raw power of Rafa’s shots makes him a menace and has earned him the title of the King of Clay. While his strength is one of his skills, one tennis expert believes it is the only good thing in his arsenal. 

Rafa returned to the court this year to show his exceptional strength to his fans once again. However, his 2024 run is not going as planned despite his exceptional strength. 

Rafael Nadal, without one specific strength, “no longer scares anyone” 

Those who watched tennis in the late 2000s saw the prime of Rafa. No one can deny that the Spaniard is physically stronger than most players on tour. While he has more skills that have helped him to hit 22 grand slams, one French expert believes that it might be the only skill to his advantage. Benoit Maylin recently appeared on the Sans Filet podcast to discuss his point of view.

Mayling said, “Nadal’s strength is his notable physical dimension… if he doesn’t have that, he’s dead, he no longer scares anyone”. The King of Clay notably has a great physique, which comes into play when he is mowing down opponents left and right. A picture of his physique went viral last year, which showed why he has great power behind his shots.

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Additionally, fans also commended his physique before his Brisbane International return. Some even compared it to his prime look. While fans around the world are aware of the mind-boggling musculature of the King of Clay, it couldn’t help him have a good run in his return year.

Rafa drops from the first slam of the year

Rafa suffered a heartbreaking injury during the Brisbane International and announced that he would have to withdraw from professional tennis for a while. He backed out of the Australian Open and had to fly back to Spain for appropriate treatment. An MRI was conducted when he arrived in Melbourne, and it revealed a micro-tear in his muscles.

While the injury is not majorly threatening, he realized playing the best of 5 sets was out of the question for now. We might see Rafa return for the Sunshine Doubles later this year, or he could come back in the clay season right away. Dreams of his comeback were thrashed yet again, and fans are beside themselves watching his struggles. Can he recover for the French Open this time?

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