Home

Tennis

“Pity Was the End”: Carlos Moya Feels Rafael Nadal Missed a Chance to Win ATP Finals 2020

Published 11/29/2020, 9:30 AM EST

Follow Us

via Reuters

Spain’s tennis great, Carlos Moya, who is part of the coaching staff of Rafael Nadal, has said that his pupil did take some positives from a ‘strange year’ on the professional circuit.

The former French Open champion said it was a rare season where players took whatever positives they could from the handful of matches they could play.

via Reuters

More positives for Rafael Nadal in 2020, says coach Carlos Moya

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

With concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic putting paid to many events, including the Wimbledon Championship, this calendar, the players were hardly left with enough tournaments to rake in crucial ranking points.

Many put health over tennis and skipped events citing the pandemic.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Nadal finished 2020 season as World Number 2

Though not as prolific as he has been in previous years, Nadal finished the season as World Number 2. He also clinched an unprecedented 13th straight French Open trophy.

His win/loss record this season stood at a fairly impressive 27-7.

Rafael Nadal Issues Cautionary Message to His Fans on Social Media

Taking stock of Nadal’s performance this year, Moya said there were clearly more positives than negatives at the end of a pandemic-hit season.

Speaking to Spanish portal Libertad Digital, Moya said, “Very rare season and very strange year for everyone. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal)

 

“Within what has been possible to play, the balance is clearly positive because winning a Grand Slam always turns the year into a great year. That is undoubted.”

Nadal’s agony at ATP Finals prolonged

His 20th Grand Slam at Roland-Garros this year tied Nadal with Roger Federer’s tally of Major titles. However, he went title-less yet again at the prestigious ATP Finals.

Coming into the event in the hope of ending his title drought, Nadal fell to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal.

Moya said it was a pity that Nadal couldn’t end his barren run at the ATP Finals this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“The pity was the end with the London Masters Cup where I think Rafa had a chance to reach the final and also to win the tournament.Normally with him things usually happen in favor, but in this case they happened against,”  Moya said.

Nadal’s run at the Rolex Paris Masters also ended in disappointment this year. He lost in straight sets to German Alexander Zverev in the semifinal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, the Spaniard did finish the season as the third biggest earner, pocketing over three million euros.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Priyabrata Chowdhury

1,101Articles

One take at a time

Priyabrata Chowdhury is a tennis author for EssentiallySports. He has been a print journalist for a decade, producing news pages for leading national dailies such as the Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express. His passion for sports eventually drove him to tennis writing.
Show More>