Rafael Nadal played only 29 matches in 2021, struggling with injuries and missing important tournaments. The Spaniard played only one event in the opening three months, wasting two sets to love advantage against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open and returning on his beloved clay.Rafa had to dig deep to claim titles in Barcelona and Rome, hoping for more of the same at Roland Garros but losing an epic semi-final to Novak Djokovic in four hours and 11 minutes. The legend played only two official matches in the rest of the year, wrapping up the season in August and undergoing a minor foot procedure in September.Nadal did not know what to expect at the beginning of the new season, traveling to Melbourne with many question marks. As i …