Just over 12 months ago, Rafa underwent another knee operation. Today he feels physically close to 100%, mentally he is not back where he was, he says. The last months, almost years, ran like a roller coaster ride.
Well understandable if you take a look at his past injuries over the years. In the last 27 months alone, he spent 16 of them in rebuilding practice and physiotherapy.
-2007 tore the cruciate ligament in the left knee
-2012 tore the cruciate ligament in the right knee
-Juni 2017 diagnosed Bonebruise in the right knee
-March 2018 tore the meniscus and the cruciate ligament in the right knee
After the first three knee injuries, he stood up again and again, most recently in 2018 with the win at the Australian Open. This time it seems like a rockier undertaking back to the top.
Rafa says: «At the moment I lack the mental consistency to get through an entire match on high intensity. Conversely, this also leads to little self-confidence in me and in my game. Of course I had good games the last months in which I was competitive. For example, at the US Open i had matchballs against Stan, at the Shanghaifinal a 6-1 5-1 lead, but lost both at the end.
Of course it is not always the final result that counts, but mentally it was a big setback.»
The Fedal World Tour Finals are next on the schedule. They are another way for Rafa to boost his self-confidence and build on the season 2020. «The last few practice sessions with Roger have been promising. High intensity, fightingspirit and self-confidence could be strengthened for next week. True to the motto: Practice like you’ve never won, play like you’ve never lost.»
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Great stuff Rafa! Im sure you gonna win your next tournament soon! Keep fighting and keep and improving.