This time last year, as the world’s best tennis players faced each other in london at the season-ending finale, Rafael Nadal couldn’t even practice.
Trying not to look too far ahead, the Spaniard was at home in Spain, just thinking about his badly injured knee. Nadal didn’t know if he would play competitive tennis again.
Things have changed dramatically.
Twelve months later in london, Nadal capped his remarkable comeback on Wednesday by clinching the year-end No. 1 spot for the third time in his career.
Just nine months after returning from his career-threatening injury, Nadal became the first player to hold, lose and regain the year-end No. 1 spot twice by beating Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) at the ATP finals. Roger Federer and Ivan lendl did it once in their careers.
Nadal, who beat Wawrinka for the 12th time in as many matches, can’t be overtaken by No. 2 Novak Djokovic.
After breaking Wawrinka in the fifth game, he looked in complete control. Raising his game on important points, he erased Wawrinka’s two first break points to build a 5-3 lead and looked set for an easy victory.
But Wawrinka held on as Nadal served for the set, sending a sizzling crosscourt backhand that the top-ranked player returned out of court to earn a third break point. He seized his opportunity, wrongfooting Nadal with a crosscourt forehand.
Federer beats Gasquet
Roger Federer made light work of Richard Gasquet to clinch his first win at the ATP World Tour Finals, defeating the Frenchman 6-4, 6-3 to boost his chances of making the semifinals on Thursday.
In a match billed as a meeting between two stylists, Federer quickly took control and broke Gasquet four times in the match. The Frenchman hit only 11 winners and looked inhibited throughout.
Federer was not having a great day either — the Swiss had 30 unforced errors — but prevailed on important points as Gasquet converted only one of his six break points. Federer needed five match points to earn his 43rd Finals win.