Rafael Nadal he focused on the next season, after the defeat against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, by 6-3 and 6-4, which leaves him practically out of the ATP Finals that are held in Turin, the only major tournament that does not save in their showcases.
“Tomorrow my 2023 season begins. I have to continue working to be with options for next year. There are a couple of positive things, I have played two tournaments in two weeks, it is something positive. I have not forgotten how to play tennis, I need to recover good sensations and the strong mentality that I need to be at the level that I want to be, I don’t know if I will be able to recover but I have no doubt that I am going to die for it”, he assured in a round of press.
“These two matches have not been bad tennis wise, they have been bad mentally at key moments. This day has been better than the other day, although I have been unable to make my options good. I fought until the end, but when things go this way, with this dynamic, it’s hard to change. Nothing to complain about, just accept that it is what we have today. Felix is a great player who has played the key points better. Good for him,” he added.
Nadal, what a sum four consecutive defeats, something that had not happened since 2009, he acknowledged feeling disappointed and insisted on his usual maxim. “Those who have won the most is because they have known how to navigate in the field of restlessness. These are sad, disappointing moments, I had trained well, with enthusiasm, but it has not been enough. I do not know of any other way to remedy it than by working”.
“In sport, the ‘what if…’ does not work. With that, many things would have been won. If the ‘if’ is not done, it is because you were not prepared. I have been training well, I have yet to win a game to to be able to compete well. I have had tennis quality in training. I was close to the ‘click’ a few days ago, I haven’t done it and it’s time to recover,” he said.
The Spaniard, who has not achieved continuity in the second part of the season, spoke about the situation he has experienced these months, between injuries and the birth of his firstborn: “Six hard months, you have to accept it, when you face all the circumstances I’ve faced, being here in the Finals is positive.”
Rafa’s options to finish number one of the season include the fact that the Norwegian Ruud does not make a set against the American Fritz: “Finishing number one would be a great achievement, but I don’t fight for it. My body, my age and my personal situation do not allow me to pursue that goal any more.” Although he was not entirely confident with his chances, so much so that he congratulated his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz: “Well done by Carlos, it’s great news for the Spanish tennis, he deserves it after a great year”.
On whether he is optimistic or doubtful ahead of the Australian Open, Nadal replied that it is somewhat compatible: “You can be optimistic and have doubts. If you don’t have doubts, from my point of view, you are arrogant; and if you are not optimistic It’s impossible to win. I don’t know what will happen in Australia. I will be as humble as possible facing the challenge and I can only work.”
“Doubts make you work more. Doubts are good, they’re going to help me. And optimism too. It’s time to recover, work hard, be positive, accept the challenge and that I’m going to have to suffer something more. We’ll know if I’m ready in the next few months,” he said. In addition, he assured that he feels motivated and that he is not thinking, for now, about giving up: “If I am here it is because I am motivated. The simple fact of being here and fighting at the end of the season with everything that has happened, that the most It would have been easy not to do it, it shows that the illusion is there”.
