Rafael Nadal looks to a fresh beginning
He was joined at a mini-tennis court set up at an ornate Barcelona classical concert hall by two-time tournament champion Kei Nishikori.
Barcelona: Rafael Nadal said on Monday he won’t waste time dwelling on his weekend Monte Carlo semi-final loss but instead will concentrate on bouncing back at the Barcelona Open.
“What has happened has happened, whatever the reasons are. I don’t know the future, but I will go back to work. The job is to find myself,” the 11-time Barcelona champion said after a promotional appearance at a mini-tennis event in the Catalan capital.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner, who returned at Monte Carlo after a knee injury, put a positive spin on his Saturday setback against eventual tournament winner Fabio Fognini. “Monte Carlo was a step forward compared to where I was a week earlier,” Nadal said.
He was joined at a mini-tennis court set up at an ornate Barcelona classical concert hall by two-time tournament champion Kei Nishikori.
The Spaniard will open his title defence on Wednesday against Argentine Leo Mayer, a first-round winner over Marius Copil 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5.
Nadal called his first light hit-out since Saturday’s loss “normal.”
“It’s the first day of practice in a different place. I did what I had to do,” he said.
He again labelled his defeat to Fognini “one of the worst matches on clay.”
“It’s a reality. There is no need to hide it. I don’t see any benefit in denying it.”
As usual, the 32-year-old Spaniard is focussing on the bright side as the pre-Roland Garros clay season hits full stride. “I lost a good opportunity to start the season in a fantastic way. But I’ve now got another one. “We will know more about my form on Wednesday. This is a very special tournament that is part of the history of tennis and of my own. I have another morning to practice and we will see how we are doing. On a physical level, I’m more or less well,” he said.
“I’ve reached the finals in Australia, semifinals in Indian Wells and now semi-finals again in Monte Carlo. The year is not bad, I’m third in the race (to the year-end championship) — but with more problems than I would have wanted,” he added.
Nadal said repeated injuries have played a role in denying him the momentum he needs. “I have to find myself. During the last 18 months I’ve had too many non-tennis related stops, ups and downs. When that happens, it’s hard to pick up rhythm. But it’s happened so many times that the (good times) seem to be forgotten. I hope to be ready to play well — but if not here, it will be at Madrid, in Rome or at Roland Garros,” he said.