While Djokovic languishes angrily in detention at the Melbourne Park Hotel, awaiting a verdict expected for tonight (but which may not be definitive) his great rival Rafa Nadal returns to win. He did so at the ATP 250 Melbourne Summer Set, beating in the final 7-6 6-3 the French qualifier Maxime Cressy, n.112 Atp. It is the 89th professional title of the Spanish champion, who is fourth in this ranking after Connors (109), Federer (103) and Lendl (89) and precedes Djokovic (86). Certainly not the most prestigious success for Nadal, but in any case an important signal because it is the first cup that the Spaniard raises after that of the Internazionali d’Italia last May.
Nadal hadn’t played a match since August, when a foot injury forced him to miss the US Open and the rest of the 2021 season following his defeat to Lloyd Harris in Washington. set throughout the tournament, gradually overtaking Rikardas Berankis and the young Finn Ruusuvuori after benefiting from the Dutch Griekspoor’s retirement in the quarterfinals. With the victory of Melbourne, Rafa, now number 6 Atp, thus extends the series of consecutive seasons in which he has won at least one ATP tournament to 19. A great way to start 2022.