Fishing Can Wait For Fired-up Nadal
Zeeshan Mehtab Published January 09, 2017 | 10:10 AM
SYDNEY, Jan 9, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 09th Jan, 2017 ) - Spanish great Rafael Nadal says he would be at home fishing if he felt could no longer challenge the top Names, with his passion undimmed despite being plagued by injuries.
The 30-year-old has won 14 Grand Slams in a glittering tennis career, but the last came at the French Open in 2014 and his 2016 season was ruined by a wrist problem. Many believe he is past his peak but Nadal still has faith as he prepares for the Australian Open in Melbourne next week.
"If I believed that if (I) could not have this chance during this next 11 months, I would be home fishing," he told reporters in Sydney Monday ahead of a Fast4 exhibition event. "My real goal is to try to compete for the important things and to compete for the important things I know I have to try to beat these guys," he added, referring to Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
"If I am working hard and I have the motivation and passion to keep going, I feel that if I am happy and I can work the way I want to be, I can be." After opening his season in Doha for seven of the past eight years, Nadal instead opted this year to begin at the Brisbane International in a bid to better adapt to the Australian conditions.
But he lost in the quarter-finals last week to big-serving Milos Raonic, and has slipped down the world rankings to nine. Despite this he is confident ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the season, where he lost in the first round last year and has only won one of his major titles.
"I feel that Melbourne is an opportunity to play well again and to have positive feelings and then anything can happen if I start to feel good and competitive," he said. APP/AFP/anm
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
8 hours ago -
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
8 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
8 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results
9 hours ago -
Inaugurate of fitness gym at Ayum Stadium on 25th April
9 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
9 hours ago
-
Women’s One-Day tournament: Multan beat Rawalpindi, Quetta beat Peshawar, Lahore beat Karachi
9 hours ago -
Argentinian Etcheverry sees off Norrie to head into Barcelona Open semis
11 hours ago -
Pakistan all set to face New Zealand tomorrow
13 hours ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
13 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
13 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
14 hours ago