Considering we probably won’t have tennis in 2020, here’s a thread to relive Rafa’s 2019:
January starts with Rafa flying to Brisbane. He begins to train but understands immediately he won’t be able to play due to an injury to his left right. He withdrew without even playing his first match.
In Sidney, Rafa plays an exhibition match teaming up with Milos Raonic, winning against Nick Kyrgios and John Millman.
Australian Open starts and Rafa reaches the final.
1R vs Duckworth 6-4/6-3/7-5
2R vs Ebden 6-3/6-2/6-2
3R vs De Minaur 6-1/6-2/6-4
4R vs Berdych 6-0/6-1/7-6
QF vs Tiafoe 6-3/6-4/6-2
SF vs Tsitsipas 6-2/6-4/6-0
F vs Djokovic 3-6/2-6/3-6
1R vs Duckworth 6-4/6-3/7-5
2R vs Ebden 6-3/6-2/6-2
3R vs De Minaur 6-1/6-2/6-4
4R vs Berdych 6-0/6-1/7-6
QF vs Tiafoe 6-3/6-4/6-2
SF vs Tsitsipas 6-2/6-4/6-0
F vs Djokovic 3-6/2-6/3-6
In early February, Rafa takes part in the Banc Sabadell event held in Vigo and poses with Celta’s footballer Brais Mendez.
In February 22th, Rafa arrives in Acapulco and participates to the Black Party with his coach Carlos Moyà and some friends.
Acapulco starts and it’s not Rafa’s best tournament at all. He loses in Round 2.
R1 vs Zverev M. 6-3/6-3
R2 vs Kyrgios 6-3/6-7/6-7
R1 vs Zverev M. 6-3/6-3
R2 vs Kyrgios 6-3/6-7/6-7
March arrives and Rafa flies to Indian Wells where he participates at the Eisenhower Cup, together with a bunch of other players.
He wins his first match against Fritz 10-8 and loses against Stan Wawrinka 13-11.
Raonic will win the exho.
He wins his first match against Fritz 10-8 and loses against Stan Wawrinka 13-11.
Raonic will win the exho.
Indian Wells starts. Rafa looks well but in the QF match against Khachanov his knee bothers him. He finishes the match winning it but has to withdraw from the following sf against Roger.
R1 Donaldson 6-1/6-1
R2 Schwartzman 6-3/6-1
R3 Krajinovic 6-3/6-4
QF Khachanov 7-6/7-6
RET.
R1 Donaldson 6-1/6-1
R2 Schwartzman 6-3/6-1
R3 Krajinovic 6-3/6-4
QF Khachanov 7-6/7-6
RET.
Monte Carlo starts and Rafa is far from his best self. He loses in the SF against Fabio Fognini.
R1 vs Bautista 6-1/6-1
R2 vs Dimitrov 6-4/6-1
QF vs Pella 7-6/6-3
SF vs Fognini 4-6/2-6
R1 vs Bautista 6-1/6-1
R2 vs Dimitrov 6-4/6-1
QF vs Pella 7-6/6-3
SF vs Fognini 4-6/2-6
Rafa leaves Monte Carlo and flies to Barcelona where participates in the promotional event of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell with Kei Nishikori.
This is probably the worse part of Rafa’s season. He struggles to concentrate and to feel good on court but he tries hard nonetheless.
“I was on court and I kept wondering why I was even there”. Rafa will confess it months after, rethinking about his first matches in Barcelona. He falls in the sf against Thiem.
R1 vs Mayer 6-7/6-4/6-2
R2 vs Ferrer 6-3/6-3
QF vs Struff 7-5/7-5
SF vs Thiem 4-6/4-6
R1 vs Mayer 6-7/6-4/6-2
R2 vs Ferrer 6-3/6-3
QF vs Struff 7-5/7-5
SF vs Thiem 4-6/4-6
Rafa lands in Madrid with slightly better feelings in May 3rd and attends the presentation of the Mutua Madrid Open at the Prado Museum with Garbiñe Muguruza.
Before the tournament starts, Rafa participates in the ceremony in honor of David Ferrer with Roger and some other players.
Rafa finds himself back in Madrid but he’s still not at his best. His tournament ends in the sf against Tsitsipas.
R1 Auger-Aliassime 6-3/6-3
R2 Tiafoe 6-3/6-4
QF Wawrinka 6-1/6-2
SF Tsitsipas 4-6/6-2/3-6
R1 Auger-Aliassime 6-3/6-3
R2 Tiafoe 6-3/6-4
QF Wawrinka 6-1/6-2
SF Tsitsipas 4-6/6-2/3-6
Finally the first title of the season. Pure relief for Rafa in Rome.
R1 vs Chardy 6-0/6-1
R2 vs Basilashvili 6-1/6-0
QF vs Verdasco 6-4/6-0
SF vs Tsitsipas 6-3/6-4
F vs Djokovic 6-0/4-6/6-1
R1 vs Chardy 6-0/6-1
R2 vs Basilashvili 6-1/6-0
QF vs Verdasco 6-4/6-0
SF vs Tsitsipas 6-3/6-4
F vs Djokovic 6-0/4-6/6-1
Amazing 12.
R1 vs Hanfmann 6-2/6-1/6-3
R2 vs Maden 6-1/6-2/6-4
R3 vs Goffin 6-1/6-3/4-6/6-3
R4 vs Londero 6-2/6-3/6-3
QF vs Nishikori 6-1/6-1/6-3
SF vs Federer 6-3/6-4/6-2
F vs Thiem 6-3/5-7/6-1/6-1
R1 vs Hanfmann 6-2/6-1/6-3
R2 vs Maden 6-1/6-2/6-4
R3 vs Goffin 6-1/6-3/4-6/6-3
R4 vs Londero 6-2/6-3/6-3
QF vs Nishikori 6-1/6-1/6-3
SF vs Federer 6-3/6-4/6-2
F vs Thiem 6-3/5-7/6-1/6-1
Rafa’s preparation for Wimbledon continues with the Hurlingham Club exhibition tournament against Cilić and Pouille. He loses both matches but his form is pretty good and he looks confident.
Wimbledon starts and Rafa is strong. Not enough to beat Roger Federer in the sf, but nothing to be upset about.
R1 Sugita 6-3/6-1/6-3
R2 Kyrgios 6-3/3-6/7-6/7-6
R3 Tsonga 6-2/6-3/6-2
R4 Sousa 6-2/6-2/6-2
QF Querrey 7-5/6-2/6-2
SF Federer 6-7/6-1/3-6/6-4
R1 Sugita 6-3/6-1/6-3
R2 Kyrgios 6-3/3-6/7-6/7-6
R3 Tsonga 6-2/6-3/6-2
R4 Sousa 6-2/6-2/6-2
QF Querrey 7-5/6-2/6-2
SF Federer 6-7/6-1/3-6/6-4
Another title for Rafa in Canada.
R1 vs Evans 7-6/6-4
R2 vs Pella 6-3/6-4
QF vs Fognini 2-6/6-1/6-2
SF vs Monfils w/o
F vs Medvedev 6-3/6-0
R1 vs Evans 7-6/6-4
R2 vs Pella 6-3/6-4
QF vs Fognini 2-6/6-1/6-2
SF vs Monfils w/o
F vs Medvedev 6-3/6-0
The 19th Slam title in US.
R1 vs Millman 6-3/6-2/6-2
R2 vs Kokkinakis w/o
R3 vs Chung 6-3/6-4/6-2
R4 vs Cilic 6-3/3-6/6-1/6-2
QF vs Schwartzman 6-4/7-5/6-2
SF vs Berrettini 7-6/6-4/6-1
F vs Medvedev 7-5/6-3/5-7/4-6/6-4
R1 vs Millman 6-3/6-2/6-2
R2 vs Kokkinakis w/o
R3 vs Chung 6-3/6-4/6-2
R4 vs Cilic 6-3/3-6/6-1/6-2
QF vs Schwartzman 6-4/7-5/6-2
SF vs Berrettini 7-6/6-4/6-1
F vs Medvedev 7-5/6-3/5-7/4-6/6-4
Rafa has to withdraw from the tournament due to a wrist injury but he doesn’t leave his spot on the bench to cheer for his team.

In October 24th, Rafa plays an exhibition match in Kazakhstan against Djokovic. He wins it 6-3/3-6/11-9 (super tiebreak).
November starts in Paris Bercy for Rafa. He wins his matches and conquers the sf but he has to withdraw with an abdominal injury.
R1 vs Mannarino 7-5/6-4
R2 vs Wawrinka 6-4/6-4
QF vs Tsonga 7-6/6-1
RET.
R1 vs Mannarino 7-5/6-4
R2 vs Wawrinka 6-4/6-4
QF vs Tsonga 7-6/6-1
RET.
Against all predictions, Rafa shows up for the WTF. He’s not ready at all and loses his first match. He wins the next 2 but he’s still out due to the RR dynamics.
RR. Match 1 vs Zverev 2-6/4-6
RR. Match 2 vs Medvedev 6-7/6-3/7-6
RR. Match 3 vs Tsitsipas 6-7/6-4/7-5
RR. Match 1 vs Zverev 2-6/4-6
RR. Match 2 vs Medvedev 6-7/6-3/7-6
RR. Match 3 vs Tsitsipas 6-7/6-4/7-5
Nonetheless, he has the certainty to be the Year End World number one for the fifth time in his career.