RAFA NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR AUZZIE OPEN

Written by: on 7th January 2015
Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi
RAFA NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR AUZZIE OPEN

epa04545578 Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Swiss tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka during their match for the third place at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 03 January 2015. EPA/ALI HAIDER  |

RAFAEL NADAL Has His Doubts About Playing Australian Open

 

Rafael Nadal has thrown grave doubts over his participation in the Australian Open after two humiliating performances that have demonstrated he is functioning well below 100% fitness with the year’s first Grand Slam tournament just 11 days away.

 

Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Andy Murray of Britain during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2015 semi final match in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 02 January 2015. EPA/ALI HAIDER

Nadal has been back in training for a couple of weeks following the removal of his appendix and stem cell surgery on his back in November. However yesterday’s 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss against world no.127 Michael Berrer at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha following last Friday’s emphatic 6-2, 6-0 loss against Andy Murray in Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala exhibition event has left the winner of 14 Grand Slam titles including the 2009 Australian Open uncertain whether it is sensible to compete at Melbourne Park.

 

“I want to play in the Australian Open, which is a tournament I like a lot but I don’t know if that will be the case,” said a disconsolate Nadal. “But I am going to work for it.

 

“If not, I will be playing at Rio and Buenos Aires. The season is long. After coming back from injury you can’t see the immediate moment, you have to look further ahead a little bit.”

 

Optimism is obviously not abundant in Nadal’s mind after losing to a 34-year-old qualifier who is playing his last season on the ATP World Tour. However he is heading for Melbourne where he will link up with his uncle and coach Toni who habitually never makes the early year trip to the Middle East.

 

“This is the third comeback of my career after injury, so we will see how it goes in a couple of months,” said the 28 year-old Majorcan who was defending champion in Doha and was beaten in last year’s Australian Open final by Stan Wawrinka. “I wanted to start well, but it was not the case.

 

Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating Swiss tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka during their match for the third place at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 03 January 2015. EPA/ALI HAIDER

“Now, in my mind I have to practice well and try to be ready for Australia, but I know it can happen that I will go there and lose. Perhaps I will win a couple of matches there, I don’t know.”

 

Berrer had taken only four games in four sets off Nadal in their previous two meetings. So he maintained the win as one of the highpoints of his career. “It’s one of the matches which will stay in my memory forever, but let’s be honest it was the first match for Rafa after injury,” he said.

 

“In the first set it felt like the other matches against him. Then it became easy to attack because it was the only chance I had. It’s also my last season and I had nothing to lose, and I’m enjoying it here – so why not?”

 

 

 

 

STORY VIA BOB LARSON TENNIS NEWS.

Topics: , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

Tennis News: Wilson’s Revolution Is Here – THE CLASH thumbnail

Tennis News: Wilson’s Revolution Is Here – THE CLASH

Tennis players and coaches around the world will receive this prototype racket as part of, what we believe is, the largest and broadest playtest in racket history.
ROTTERDAM TENNIS TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK ANNOUNCES DAVID GOFFIN TO PLAY IN 2019 ABN AMRO thumbnail

ROTTERDAM TENNIS TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK ANNOUNCES DAVID GOFFIN TO PLAY IN 2019 ABN AMRO

David Goffin, finalist of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in 2017, will come to Rotterdam for the sixth time in February. The 28-year-old Belgian is the ninth player who has been announced for the 46th edition.
JELENA VEMIC’S PHOTO GALLERY thumbnail

JELENA VEMIC’S PHOTO GALLERY

Click here to check out the latest photos from our tennis friend Jelena Vemic.
TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON • 10SBALLS REPORTS ON THE LAWN TENNIS WRITERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT WIMBLEDON’S DEBENTURE CLUB thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON • 10SBALLS REPORTS ON THE LAWN TENNIS WRITERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT WIMBLEDON’S DEBENTURE CLUB

The annual (British) Lawn Tennis Writer’s Association awards lunch was back at its old stomping ground at the All England Club after a year’s hiatus.
10sBalls.com Shares a Great Gift For A Tennis Player – The Functional Tennis Match Journal thumbnail

10sBalls.com Shares a Great Gift For A Tennis Player – The Functional Tennis Match Journal

Released earlier this year The Functional Tennis Match Journal has proved very popular. By it as a Christmas gift!