Tennis News: Rafael Nadal Fit In Brazil Tournament But Not Yet ‘Ready To Win’
Rafael Nadal is not confident that he can be in top form in defending the title at the 2015 Rio de Janeiro Open. The World No. 3 said that while he’s feeling good physically but unsure if he can win in Brazil. Nadal struggled with various in injuries in the 2014 Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP, season that has caused him to lose the World No. 2 spot to rival Roger Federer of Switzerland.
Nadal won the inaugural edition of the Rio Open in 2014 winning against Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in straight sets, 6-3 7-6 (3). That was exactly a year ago however and Nadal has missed most of the second half of the season as he recovered from appendicitis surgery and wrist injury, among other injuries in 2014. With not enough games or wins, Nadal is not confident entering the tournament in Brazil.
“I’m feeling well physically. I don’t know if I’m ready to win here. I’m going to try to be ready for Tuesday – to be competitive; to have good chances – and after that we’ll see what’s going on,” Nadal said to the official website of the ATP tour. “I start the tournament from the first round… the conditions will be extreme; players are dangerous. The first round will be tough with any opponent.”
The 28 year old Nadal will be back in the court for the first time since losing to Tomas Berdych of Czechoslovakia in the quarter-final of the first Grand Slam of the year, the 2015 Australian Open in Melbourne last January. In his first tournament of the season, at the Qatar Open, Nadal also lost to Michael Berrer of Germany in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6 in the Round of 32 stage of the tournament. For the season, Nadal has just four wins in six outings.
The 2015 Rio Open is set from Feb. 16 to 22, 2015 and Nadal will be facing Thomaz Bellucci of home country Brazil in the first round of the tournament.
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