Nadal sets his target in Australia

Rafael Nadal does not want titanic battles in the United Cup and prefers to reserve all his potential for the first Grand Slam of 2023: the Australian Open.

The 36-year-old lost to Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur, and Team Spain (consisting of Paula Badosa, Pablo Carreño, Albert Ramos, David Vega, Nuria Párrizas and Jessica Bouzas) was knocked out of the mixed event in the group stage. It’s a very different start to the season compared to 2022, when Nadal won a career-high 20 straight matches to open the year, including two Down Under titles at the Melbourne Summer Set and the Australian Open.

“I need hours on the court. I need battles like this. I haven’t played many official matches in the last six months, almost seven. Days like these two help. Of course, with victories the process is faster, but I need to keep fighting. That’s everything. At times I played a very good level of tennis. Playing very well with the backhand. Changing direction with the right hand,” he said at a press conference after the match he lost to Minaur.

Rafael Nadal has lost 6 of his last 7 games (against Tiafoe, Paul, Fritz, Aliassime, Norrie and De Miñaur) with only one victory in the last four months, something that has not happened since he had similar figures between 2003 and 2004 .

I have a brutal level of mistrust,” he said during the third set of his match against De Miñaur.

While he lamented the missed opportunities and “major mistakes” against Australia’s De Minaur, Nadal still found many positives from his United Cup experience.

“I have two weeks before the Australian Open starts. I can’t say that the situation is ideal, but at the same time I can’t say that it’s very negative, because at times I was playing well. I’m going to work hard these two weeks to be better physically. In terms of tennis, probably playing sets and practicing for the next two weeks with good guys, I think that can help me be more consistent. It’s just the beginning and honestly I’m not too alarmed, too negative about what happened “I think there was a real possibility of losing these kinds of matches. I had my chance against two great players, I couldn’t convert it. That says I have important room to improve.”

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