Wimbledon 2022 gets underway on Monday, amidst a lot of controversy. The draw is out and because of the current changes in place and injury to Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal is the second seed. That means he is automatically in the opposite half of the draw from Novak Djokovic. However, that’s about all it means because once again, he has a difficult draw.
Nadal’s Path To Glory Littered With Obstacles
Nadal has a plethora of big servers in his half of the draw, which is potentially dangerous. He may meet none or many depending on the luck of the draw. I would not ignore his first round opponent either, Francisco Cerundolo. His first big server may be Sam Querrey, who is dangerous on grass. Alexei Popyrin has a big game, but can he stay focused for three sets? Marin Cilic is always a threat, but the concern is his mental fortitude. Taylor Fritz has the game for grass and has beaten Nadal before.
Embed from Getty ImagesWimbledon 2022 Is Different From Previous Years
There will be no ranking points given to anyone, which is quite unfortunate for those who go far in the draw. Yet, everyone will still focus on going far in the draw because it is statistically significant. Winning a major title is the objective of every player. Rafael Nadal will have to focus on minimizing his energy expenditure in each round. It would be fabulous if he makes it to the final. Can we see another inspired performance from the Spaniard? His fans would definitely love that; however, there remains a lot of questions surrounding his grass readiness and his foot.
Looks Like Smooth Sailing For Novak Djokovic
In contrast to the number two seed, Djokovic has smooth sailing all the way to the final. Sure he may stumble a bit, but I don’t see anyone knocking him out. Unless of course, someone steps up their game big time. Carlos Alcaraz may still be recovering from his loss at Roland Garros, so not quite sure where his head is at the moment. Perhaps he is ready to reclaim the spotlight.
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