Rafael Nadal admits he's not favourite to win Australian Open
Rafael Nadal, 14-times Grand Slam winner, seeded three at Melbourne
Park, missed the end of last year due to appendicitis and has also
struggled with ongoing back and wrist injuries.
Melbourne: Rafael Nadal says he's working "big-time" to get back to
his best after an injury-blighted season, but admits to being a long
shot at the Australian Open.The 14-times Grand Slam winner, seeded three
at Melbourne Park, missed the end of last year due to appendicitis and
has also struggled with ongoing back and wrist injuries.
He faces a tough first-up opponent in Russian Mikhail Youzhny and is
not confident of going the distance at the opening Grand Slam of the
year."I don't consider myself one of the favorites here," he said on
Saturday."Last year, yes. This year is a different story.. I would be
lying if I say I feel that I am ready to win today.
I don't feel myself ready to win the tournament here today."Nadal's
biggest problem, apart from needing to recover physically and mentally
after an appendectomy, is that he has had very few matches since
Wimbledon back in July.
His lack of match fitness was plain to see in Qatar this month when
he was humiliated in the first round by 34-year-old Michael Berrer, a
qualifier ranked outside the top 100.- More court time needed -Nadals
admits he needs more time on court."
It is a question of time and work and I am working big-time," he
said."In theory, playing four, five matches in seven months, you cannot
be a favorite of a tournament that is not clay, is on hard (court)."
But I am doing lots of practice and doing the things that I believe I
have to do to recover my level."It is true that having a Grand Slam this
early in the season after an injury like I had is not the ideal
thing."But here we are. I worked a lot since 10th of December. I worked
a lot the last couple of weeks in Abu Dhabi and Doha, then here this
week."I am calm and happy the way I did things. I just need to play
better than what I am doing.
To play better, I need to win matches. I need to spend hours on court
competing."The only way to make that happen is to be on the tour. So I
am on the tour, and that's the only way I can come back to my best
level."
Despite injuries that have plagued his career, the Spaniard still
managed to win Roland Garros for the ninth time in 10 years in 2014.
He also won the Madrid Masters and events in Doha and Rio, as well as
reaching the Australian Open final where he lost to Swiss Stan
Wawrinka.With his more recent form and fitness lacking, Nadal nominated
his arch-rivals Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray as the
clear favourites in Melbourne." I think everybody thinks the same
names," he said."Novak finished the season great.
He is a fantastic player. He's on his favorite surface."Roger is the
same story. Had a great season last year.
He finished well. Plays on his favorite surface, or one of his
favorites, grass and here. And Andy I think is playing well."We'll see.
There is a few more players that are always going to have the chance.
But between these three names, it's a big chance."
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