TURIN, Italy (AFP) — Rafael Nadal saved some honor, beating Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-5, before bowing out of the ATP Finals in Turin at the pool stage on Thursday.
Ruud had already qualified for the semifinals and he was later joined from the Green Group by the American Taylor Fritz who came through a grueling winner-take-all encounter with the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.
Nadal, the top seed in the event in the absence of injured world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, had opened by losing his first two matches in the Green Group.
He was already eliminated when he faced Ruud, who won his first two matches to book a semifinal spot.
“I have been practicing well,” said Nadal, who has struggled with injury since scratching from the Wimbledon semifinal in July.
“Just probably not enough matches to be at the level that I needed to be. Not enough confidence, probably, after six tough months. That’s how it is. I accept that the season didn’t end the way that I wanted. At least I finished with a positive victory.”
Nadal, who sits second in the rankings, said he was happy with a season in which he won the first two Grand Slam titles, in Australia and at Roland Garros.
“I can’t ask for more,” Nada said.
“The year 2022 has had a tough six months, two Grand Slams, and finishing the year in a high spot in the rankings.”
“At my age, to be able to achieve and be competitive means a lot for me.”
Nadal already has the 2023 season, which begins in January, in his sights.
“For 2023, just let’s try to have the right preparation, work the proper way and start the season with the right energy, the right attitude, to reach the level that I need to be competitive from the beginning. Let’s try it, I am excited about it.”
Norwegian Ruud was not able to break his losing streak against players at the top of rankings and suffered an eighth straight defeat to a player in the top three.
He has not won a set in any of those losses.
Nadal crushed Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the final at Roland-Garros in the spring.
On Thursday, on the very fast court of the Pala Alpitour, Nadal was particularly aggressive. His service was particularly effective, with 16 aces and just one double fault and allowed him to go to the net.
After saving two break points at 4-4, Nadal won the first set by converting his first break point.
The pattern was similar in the second set, except that Nadal was even more imperious on serve, conceding just three points in the set.
And it was with a winning cross-court backhand that he closed the match on Ruud’s serve.
Fritz, who was a late replacement at the Finals for injured world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, had made a terrific start to the tournament with victory over Nadal.
