(Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)
At the start of 2009, many thought that Rafael Nadal was set to dominate world tennis after the way he won the Australian Open, beating Roger Federer in an epic five-set final.
However, a knee injury then played its part in his shocking fourth-round defeat at the French Open, and he was not able to defend his titles at Queens and Wimbledon.
Nadal made his comeback at the Montreal Masters 1000 Event and reached the quarterfinals, where he lost to the eventual runner-up Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
The following week, Nadal made the semifinals of the Masters 1000 Event in Cincinnati, where he lost to the Serb Novak Djokovic.
The Spaniard then reached the semifinals of the US Open for the second time in as many years, but was blown apart by an inspired del Potro, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
To top it off, this weekend, Nadal reached the finals of the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, but was beaten by Nikolay Davydenko, 7-6, 6-3.
Since Nadal's comeback, he may not have won a title, but a Masters 1000 final and semi appearance, as well as a last four showing at the US Open, prove that it has been a case of so near, yet so far for Rafa in 2009.
If Nadal can find his best form, then he could yet upset the Betting Odds and win the Masters Cup in London next month.
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