By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 20, 2022
Don't let the benevolent smile and ritualistic devotion fool you.
The king of clay is a master of misdirection.
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Rafael Nadal is not where opponents expect him to be.
These days, when Nadal's back is against the wall his nose is near net.
Nadal's net play proved pivotal in his pulsating 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over 18-year-old Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells on Satuday night.
The three hour, 12-minute spectacle spanned all areas of the court and shifted to the 35-year-old Nadal after a series of electrifying volleys that sparked him past Alcaraz to extend his perfect 2022 record to 20-0. Nadal won 10 of his 20 net points in the final set.
"Today I did easy volleys, bad volleys, and very difficult volleys, great volleys," Nadal told the media in Indian Wells. "Especially saved some amazing balls with the volley. I played aggressive. Determinated to do what I needed to do to win the match."
Devoted Nadal fans know the left-hander is one of the finest front-court players in the sport and has the titles to prove it.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion and coach Marc Lopez won the doubles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Lopez joined Nadal's coaching staff in the offseason and was in his box on Saturday night. Nadal and Lopez won the 2010 and 2012 Indian Wells doubles crowns beating some of the best in the world in both runs. The pair knocked off the world No. 1 doubles team of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the 2010 final.
The 13-time Roland Garros champion owns 11 career doubles titles, which is more than Big 3 rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic's combined doubles output.
Nadal has always had soft hands and sharp vision at net.
In recent years, he's imposing his net game at critical stages. Nadal did it against Alcaraz on Saturday night as he did in the fifth set of the 2019 US Open final against Daniil Medvedev and as he did sparking the greatest comeback of his career roaring past Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open final to capture a men's record 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal cites his sharp net play and willingness to move forward one of the biggest enhancements to his game in recent years.
"As you know, I like to come into the net," Nadal said. "The last couple of years I am doing more and more all the time.
"Even I do some serve-and-volley more often than what I used to do."
It's Nadal's vision to assess his own game and his opponent's game and make the real time adjustments that have been vital assets in his career best start to a season.
It's a skill that is prolonging the 35-year-old Spaniard's career years longer than the expiration date predicted by skeptics who labeled him a grinder whose cranky knees and counter-punching style would doom him to an early end.
Ultimately, Nadal fooled everyone. Once typecast as a defender, Nadal is showing he's a true all-court champion.
While he may start points returning with his back near the back wall, Nadal is imposing dynamic finishing skills.
Skill shortening points is extending Nadal's career. Coming off a three hour, 12-minute triumph, his fourth three-setter of the the tournament, Nadal may need to play quick points against 24-year-old Taylor Fritz, who figures to be much fresher.
"I feel comfortable there. It's something that I need to do it," Nadal said of his net rushes. "As part of my game at this stage of my career, I need to do things to play more aggressive. Going to the net helps my game in general."
Photo credit" Clive Brunskill/Getty