Rafael Nadal Ends the Season in a Familiar Place: On Top

MADRID — The 2019 men’s tennis season did not end as it had begun for Rafael Nadal.

In January, after overcoming his latest round of injury concerns, he faced Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open and looked powerless as Djokovic ripped winners and controlled long rallies seemingly at will.

Nadal was a rare blend of sheepish and bewildered when the 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 drubbing was over.

Flash forward to Sunday night at the Caja Mágica when Nadal, after overcoming another round of injury concerns, finished off a week of remarkable tennis and leadership by clinching the Davis Cup title in front of a home crowd in Madrid.

He and Spain are team champions again, just as they were in 2004, when Nadal was a longhaired teenager in clam diggers surprised to be picked for singles.

He is now 33 and back at No. 1 at season’s end — a record 11 years after he finished on top for the first time.

Source: The New York Times

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