Rafael Nadal produces spectacular act of sportsmanship in upset loss to Cameron Norrie at United Cup

Males’s world quantity two Rafael Nadal has displayed his sportsmanship amid a tense second throughout his shock three-set loss to Nice Britain’s Cameron Norrie on the United Cup in Sydney.Key factors:Norrie defeated Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 6-4It was his first win over the SpaniardNadal will defend his Australian Open crown at Melbourne ParkThe scores have been locked at 2-2 and 30-30 within the deciding set of Saturday’s match when Nadal admitted the ball had struck his physique whereas enjoying a close-range shot that had made it over the web.Nadal saved the following break level, however world quantity 14 Norrie snared the break shortly after on his approach to wrapping up a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and 45 minutes.Nice Britain took a 2-0 lead over Spain within the round-robin tie when Katie Swan defeated Nuria Párrizas Díaz 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.The British staff beat Australia 3-2 of their opening tie and can prime their group with a win over Spain.Nadal gained the Australian and French Opens this yr to take his profession majors tally to 22, however foot, rib and stomach points meant he performed simply 4 occasions after Wimbledon.The 36-year-old regarded rusty at occasions in opposition to Norrie, with simply over two weeks to regain his contact forward of his Australian Open defence. Nadal has simply over two weeks till he begins the defence of his Australian Open crown.(AAP: Steven Larkham)Norrie didn’t win a set in his 4 earlier encounters in opposition to Nadal and was thrilled to get the win.”It was fairly loopy. I used to be pondering I might by no means gained a set earlier than, so I needed to come back out and firstly do this,” Norrie instructed the 9 Community.”It was a brilliant bodily match and I loved it. It is big to get by that one. He beat me straightforward the previous couple of occasions.”I felt like I used to be discovering actually good depth on my photographs.”Tactically, I feel it was a reasonably good match and I served my approach out of some bother. It is a good way to finish 2022 for me.”Though Nadal struggled along with his first serves within the opening set, his total class shone by throughout the important thing moments.He unleashed a forehand winner to snare the essential break within the sixth sport and he saved a break level a short while in a while the best way to wrapping up the set in 52 minutes.Norrie began the second set strongly and Nadal was in a gap at 0-40 down on serve within the sixth sport.Nadal saved 4 break factors earlier than a backhand mis-hit handed Norrie the break.The Briton served out the set and he was effectively on his approach to victory after securing the break within the fifth sport of the third set.Nadal created a break-point probability within the eighth sport however Norrie produced a forehand winner to shut the door on the Spaniard.In the meantime, German Alexander Zverev was upset by Czech Republic’s Jiří Lehečka of their United Cup match.Zverev returned to match play for the primary time after ankle surgical procedure and was humbled 6-4, 6-2 by world quantity 81 Lehečka in Sydney.Marie Bouzková then gave the Czechs a 2-0 lead within the tie with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Jule Niemeier.Males’s world quantity 12 Zverev’s earlier tour-level look was in opposition to Nadal in a French Open semifinal in June.Zverev rolled his proper ankle in that match, tearing all three lateral ligaments within the course of, earlier than leaving the courtroom in a wheelchair.The 25-year-old had surgical procedure and tried to return on a number of events in latest months however was compelled to abort his plans every time.Zverev was ranked quantity two on the earth in June however his lack of matches was evident as he struggled with serve and motion in opposition to Lehečka.AAP/ABC