Nadal Wins Exhibition Title in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. – Rafael Nadal wrapped up his preseason preparations by winning the Exhibition title in Abu Dhabi. Exhibition events may be meaningless in the broader context of the season – there are no ATP points up for grabs, no ranking spots to be gained. This doesn’t mean, however, they are irrelevant.

Exhibition events can be a great insight into players – where their form is really at and what might lie ahead in the early weeks of the season – and as such a great barometer for tennis bettors. Especially when the event boasts some of the best players on the tour such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Nikolay Davydenko and Robin Soderling (to name a few) competing against one another.

It was exactly the kind of measure Rafaelite fans were looking for in the preseason from the object of their affection. The victory marked Rafa’s first title since coming back from injury – he hasn’t won a title since the Rome Masters last spring. It is a good sign.

World No.2 Rafael Nadal, who let us face it finished the 2009 season frustrated and somewhat low in spirits and confidence after flopping at the Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals, was headed into the 2010 season with many question marks. His detractors were all but ready to write him off for the 2010 term (at least for the start) owing to that indelible impression he left in London and this sentiment continued even after he helped Spain to the Davis Cup title against the Czech Republic immediately afterwards.

Now that he won the Abu Dhabi Exhibition title and did it by ending a two-match losing streak against Sweden’s Robin Soderling in the title match, defeating the Sod 7-6(3), 7-5 on Saturday – he has silenced his critics. Even the worst of them cannot deny that this was a huge confidence boost for the Spaniard and just might be the beginning of the end of his “bad spell.” Wouldn’t that be the height of irony: ending the bad spell against the very person against whom it began, Robin Soderling, way back at the R16 at the French Open?

Of course, we are yet to see whether this moment will be looked back upon as Nadal’s watershed moment or whether he will make it count in the lead up to the Aussie Open where he has the small, minor task of defending his title. Certainly, with Davis Cup and Abu Dhabi titles under his belt he is chances are better they were a few weeks ago – heck, even last week. BetUS Tennis betting fans can certainly interpret both accomplishments as a clear positive trend and if Nadal continues in this form through Doha this week then he should be in fine fettle for Melbourne; indeed, he will be more of a factor at Melbourne than most would have thought he would be.

Vamos Rafa!

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