THE BEST OF 2019

Rafael Nadal had one of his best seasons of his career in 2018/2019, winning multiple tournaments, including Roland Garros and US Open along with a few Masters 1000.

At 33 years of age, the Spaniard continues to deliver at the biggest stage when almost no one thought it was possible. His team, now without Toni Nadal, have been doing an amazing job of finding ways to keep the player highly competitive throughout the years, be it for improving his net game or making his serve more effective. So, what’s the reason for Nadal to still be one of the best on the Tour for this long, even with all the injuries he suffered in his career?

CAN HE GET EVEN BETTER?

There are several answers. One can argue that his backhand has improved immensely in the last few years, turning into a shot even more effective than his forehand. Other option is that he’s being able to finish the points much quicker, as he’s more aggressive and going to the net many more times instead of grinding endlessly on the baseline. However, his serve is the one thing that’s doing more damage to the opponents. He averaged 4.6 aces in 2019, his highest in a year. The only seasons that come close is in 2010 with 3.8 and 2017 with 3.7. The help of Carlos Moya proved to be essential in Nadal’s transformation, enabling him to extend his career, while still competing for Grand Slams on such a high level.