Rafael Nadal Aims To Keep Working Hard To Improve After Losing To Andy Murray In Mubadala Semifinals

Rafael Nadal has returned to action after undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy in November at the 2014 Mubadala World Tennis Championship. However, Nadal's comeback was crushed after he lost to Andy Murray in the semifinals match, 6-2, 6-0. Nonetheless, the Spaniard and current World No. 3 has vowed to keep working hard to improve his game and get back to his top form.

In an article by Gulf News, Nadal admitted that losing to a tough rival in Murray is not really the best start possible that he could have hoped for. He said that he only needs to adjust a few simple things in his game.

According to Nadal, he wasn't playing his best at the onset of the match. The left-handed Spaniard said he had a problem with his back hand, but he added that he kind of expected it since he had been sidelined for several months. Nadal said he couldn't find his rhythm and felt a little fatigue than usual. Nadal, who only won two games against Murray on Jan. 2, said he was missing the competitive spirit and his goal is to keep working hard to recover that.

"6-2, 6-0 is too much, I had a lot of chances to have a closer result," Nadal said. "I have to improve, that's obvious, and I'm going to improve."

Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka to secure the third place. Murray, on the other hand, claimed his second Mubadala crown after Novak Djokovic pulled out of the finale because of fever.

Nadal's next tournament is the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he is the defending champion. It will be Nadal's seventh appearance in Doha. He was a runner-up in 2010 when he lost to then World No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, 0-6, 7-6(8), 6-4. Nadal won his first Qatar ExxonMobil title in 2014 against Frenchman Gael Monfils, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. He will begin his quest to defend his title against a qualifier in the first round. Nadal will also be teaming up with Juan Monaco for the doubles event. Nadal and Monaco will play against Simone Bolelli and Leonardo Mayer in the first round.

To reach the author of this article, email r.corpuz@IBTimes.com.au.