As world No.1 he’d reached seven finals in the first half of 2014 and won his fifth consecutive Roland Garros title. But he managed just seven match victories for the rest of the year; a wrist injury wiped out his US hard-court swing, then appendix surgery prematurely ended his season.
Many believed the 28-year-old’s incomparable intensity and punishing brand of tennis would not equate to competitive longevity. Nadal was also low on confidence and match play entering Australian Open 2015, adding to the uneasy feeling of a legend in inevitable decline.
Nadal was nevertheless expected to comfortably handle his second-round assignment, against 112th-ranked qualifier Tim Smyczek. Yet he staggered to a 6-2 3-6 6-7(2) 6-3 7-5 triumph over the gallant and sporting – more on that later – American, his emotional celebration hinting at what he had endured to prevail.
