rafael nadal to keep going
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Despite latest Grand Slam setback

Rafael Nadal to 'keep going'

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Rafael Nadal to 'keep going'

Spain's Rafael Nadal
Melbourne - Arab Today

Rafael Nadal did his best to shrug off his latest Grand Slam setback on Tuesday and pledged to fight on -- despite the "crazy", go-for-broke tennis now played by some of his rivals.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion, just three behind all-time leader Roger Federer, bombed out in the opening round of the Australian Open to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

In only his second first-round loss at a major tournament, Nadal, 29, fought for four hours, 41 minutes before the inspired Verdasco won 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

But Nadal was not seeking excuses as he heads home to work towards his favourite Grand Slam at Roland Garros, where he is a nine-time champion, in late May.

"The match is a tough loss for me, especially because it's not like last year when I arrived here playing bad and feeling myself not ready for it," Nadal said.
This year was a completely different story. I have been playing and practising great and working so much.

"You know it's tough when you work so much and arrive at a very important event and you're going out too early.

"It's tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it. Was not my day. Let's keep going. That's the only thing.

"There is no more thing to do than keep practising hard, keep practising the same way that I was doing the last four, five months."

- 'Crazy' tennis -

Nadal, who is trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2015, said he was disappointed he was unable to replicate his form in training when he played Verdasco, a Davis Cup team-mate.

"That's it. I hope the next time I can compete better than what I did today, because I was playing good," he said.
It was one of the worst-ever Grand Slam performances for Nadal, who also lost in the 2013 Wimbledon first round and has not won a major title since the 2014 French Open.

Nadal has now failed to go further that the quarter-finals in his past six Grand Slams, as well as missing the 2014 US Open through injury.

Nadal said he was facing new challenges, with world number one Novak Djokovic now dominating the Grand Slams and his rivals also beefing up their games.

"The game is changing a little bit. Everybody now tries to hit all the balls," he said.

"There are no balls that you can prepare for the point. Everybody hits the ball hard and try to go for the winners in any position.

"The game has become a little bit more crazy in this aspect. But the real thing is my mission is make them play with difficult positions.
"So if they want to go for lot of winners with very difficult positions, the chance of having success is not very high. So that's the mistake for me today."

His exit continues a series of heartbreaks at the year's first Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne.

He missed the 2006 and 2013 editions through injury, had to retire injured against Andy Murray in 2010, and in 2011 he was hit by a muscle strain during his defeat to David Ferrer.

And in 2014, Nadal was hit by a back problem when he lost to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in the final. 

Of his 14 Grand Slam successes, only one has come in Melbourne, in 2009.

Source :AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

rafael nadal to keep going rafael nadal to keep going

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

rafael nadal to keep going rafael nadal to keep going

 



GMT 13:42 2015 Saturday ,04 April

Libyan warplane targets camp in Gharyan town

GMT 15:14 2017 Wednesday ,01 March

UN documents nearly 1,500 child soldiers in Yemen

GMT 07:24 2017 Sunday ,01 October

Mexico unlikely to find more quake survivors

GMT 16:15 2015 Wednesday ,11 November

German intelligence 'spied' on Fabius, FBI, UN bodies

GMT 01:32 2017 Saturday ,15 April

Russia's Putin earns about 157,000 USD in 2016

GMT 16:30 2017 Saturday ,15 July

Minister of planning gives priority

GMT 19:45 2017 Wednesday ,05 April

President of Senegal Meets Attorney General

GMT 05:18 2017 Thursday ,21 September

Over 80 missing after migrant boat sinks off Libya

GMT 19:22 2017 Saturday ,01 April

UN: Number of Syrian Refugees Tops 5 million

GMT 15:16 2016 Thursday ,29 September

FBI to put up database on police use of deadly force

GMT 05:06 2016 Friday ,30 September

Indian markets open flat
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday