ATP Finals: Rafael Nadal - "In the past I wasn't good enough"
Rafael Nadal has not yet won a title at the ATP Finals. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has a very simple explanation for this.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit:
Nov 11, 2022, 07:15 pm
Although Rafael Nadal is tackling the ATP Finals this year as the top seed, the Spaniard in Turin is not one of the closest favorites. His second-round defeat in Paris-Bercy against Tommy Paul left some unanswered questions, some of which Nadal was now able to answer in the Italian metropolis. Among other things, the 36-year-old explained that stomach problems were responsible for his bloodless appearance in round three.
In Turin, Nadal now wants to return to his usual level of performance. "I need training sessions. I have to improve, but I'm happy. I'm here to do my best and try to achieve my goals," explained the 22-time Grand Slam winner to ATP .
Nadal with few missions
Since Wimbledon, where he injured his abdominal muscle, Nadal has only played six individual matches. Too few for his taste. "In the past few months I haven't been able to spend much time on the tour," the second in the world rankings also alluded to the birth of his first child. He is happy to be able to go back to his job.
So far, Nadal has not been lucky at the ATP Finals. He reached the finals in London in 2010 and 2013, but the Iberian, so used to success, has never been granted the title. That should change when he starts for the first time in Turin: "If I take part in a tennis tournament, I want to win. I'll do my best to achieve this goal. I didn't make it here. I wasn't good in the past enough to make it."
Nadal opens against Fritz
Nadal meets Taylor Fritz on Sunday, other group opponents of the 36-year-old are Casper Ruud and Felix Auger-Aliassime. "Of course it will be a challenge, but I hope that I will be willing to give myself a chance," said the 14-time French Open champion.
Nadal even has the chance in Turin to displace the currently injured Carlos Alcaraz from the top of the world rankings . But he doesn't want to deal with that just yet: "I'm just training as best as I can with the right attitude and trying to be ready for the action on Sunday."