Google News Emotional Rafael Nadal opens up following his latest defeat
by | VIEW 197
Rafael Nadal admits his current level is far from great but has vowed to do his best to return to his old level. Nadal, 36, has been struggling with his form in recent times. At the Us Open, Nadal wasn't convincing and he suffered a shock defeat to Frances Tiafoe in the round-of-16.
Since the US Open, Nadal lost three more singles matches and he is 0-3 so far this indoor season. After losing to Taylor Fritz in his Atp Finals opener, Nadal also suffered a straight-set defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime in his second Round Robin match.
Now, Nadal is 0-2 in his group and he has no chance of qualifying for the semifinal stage in Turin.
Nadal promises to give his best to rediscover his old form
“I don't think I forget how to play tennis, how to be strong enough mentally.
I just need to recover all these positive feelings and all this confidence and all this strong mentality that I need to be at the level that I want to be. And I don't know if I am going to reach that level again. But what I don't have any doubt about, that I'm going to die for it.
What can I do to give myself positive chances to have a good season next year? As always, be humble enough to accept that I have a challenge in front [of me], that the last six months have been very difficult for me, and I need to work more and I need to recover things that I lost because I was not able to practise the proper way, I was not able to compete the proper way.
What I have to do now is come back, work hard, stay positive every single day, accept the challenge, accept that I am going to need to suffer a little bit more. If I will be ready to go through all this process, we are going to know in a couple of months if I have the determination going through that," Nadal said.
On Thursday, Nadal is concluding his Atp Finals campaign. In his Round Robin finale, Nadal plays against Casper Ruud. Ruud owns a 2-0 record in the group and he has already secured a semifinal ticket. It remains to be seen if Nadal can beat Ruud and avoid going winless at the ATP Finals.