By Sarah Alvanipour
Exclusive to VamosRafael.com
August 9, 2024
It was picture of irony today during the men�s first round action at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, the first of two back-to-back Masters Series events leading up to the US Open later this month.
On court, two players hailing from a small island in the Mediterranean, both Grand Slam Champions, faced one another. Mallorca is known for its sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and hillsides littered with fabulous celebrity homes of such stars as Claudia Schiffer and Michael Douglas, but today the tiny budding Spanish isle boasted two of its most famous exports: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya.
Moya, who has suffered from injury recently, has seen his ranking drop into the thirties, thus not qualifying him for a seed in this week�s tournament. By luck of the draw, he faced his prodigy and training partner, whom he mentored. Almost a mirror reflect ion of Moya himself, Nadal was also clad in Nike, donning a sleeveless shirt and his signature pirate pants while a bandana held back his should-length hair. Aside from the pants, Moya, who turns 29 in less than three weeks, was looking at a younger version of himself.
The last time the two compadres and Davis Cup Team members played against one another was in 2003, well before Nadal�s career bloomed in the spring of 2005, where he captured a string of clay court titles, including his first Slam at Rolland Garros.
The first set began today in routine fashion for the nineteen-year-old Spanish No. 1. With only one break of serve, he was able to secure the first set 6-3. However, the seasoned pro in Moya was not to be outdone. He rallied in the second set to stave off three breakpoints, using a variety of shots from the dropper to the smash and eventually forced a tiebreak, which he went on to win in convincing form, capturing seven straight points, and denying Nadal a chance even on his own serve. Moya cranked four of his nine aces in this set alone.
With the match tied at one set a piece, an unsure Nadal took the court and it seemed as though the youngster had fizzled out there physically or mentally. At 2-2, 15-15 in the third set, Nadal called for the trainer for what appeared to be blisters, but turned out to be cramps in his left wrist and forearm. After receiving treatment, Nadal came back to his old form, saving a breakpoint and holding serve.
The competitive spirit and drive we have come to expect from Nadal immediately put pressure back on Moya, who faltered in the eighth game, surrendering his serve to give his younger counterpart a 5-3 lead and an opportunity to serve out the match.
On this second match point, the No. 1 seed sealed the victory over his childhood idol 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3.
A somewhat neutral handshake at net was all that was shared as Nadal moved on to the second round, already an improvement on last�s result, a first round loss which came at the hands of Lleyton Hewitt.
Nadal also is in the doubles draw with compatriot Tommy Robredo. The team advanced tonight with a 7-6, 6-2 comeback-from-behind win over Allegro/Hrbaty.
In other news in Montreal, Rafael�s main rival in the top half of the draw and the No. 3 seed Andy Roddick fell to Paul-Henri Mathieu in an upset. Lleyton Hewitt, the second seed, was forced to withdraw due to illness.
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