"I need to go home", breathes Nadal eliminated in the 8th by Tiafoe

"I need to go home", breathes Nadal eliminated in the 8th by Tiafoe


"I need to go home", explained Rafael Nadal, disappointed with his game on Monday, after his elimination in the round of 16 of the US Open, explaining that he does not know when he will play again, now focused on the birth to come of her first child.

What made the difference today?

It's simple: I played a bad game and he had a good game. I didn't play well. I was not able to maintain a high level of tennis. I was not fast enough in my movements. He was able to take the ball too many times early on, so I couldn't push him away. Tennis is about being in a good position. If not, you must be very, very fast and very young (smiles). What I am no longer. My shots need to be better. Overall my reading of the game and the quality of my shots were not good enough, were poor. If I want to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open, I have to do things better. I have to admit, because I haven't been able to oppose a lot of things to him. He was better than me.

Did your abdominal injury from Wimbledon bother you?

We can always complain, but I don't think that changes anything in the situation. Do not look for excuses, but be sufficiently critical with yourself. It's the only way to improve. It's the only way I know to find solutions. I did what I could, but things didn't work out the way I wanted. I trained well, however, the week before the tournament. But when the competition started, my level dropped. It's the truth. For some reason. I don't know... mental issues, since a lot has happened in the last two months. Maybe... But it doesn't matter. In the end, the only thing that happened was that I lost in the round of 16 of the US Open, against a player who was better than me.

How do you see your end of the season?

I need to go home, the last few months have been difficult. I have more important things than tennis to settle (his wife is pregnant, editor's note). And then decisions will be made based on how things are going in my personal life, which comes before my professional life. I'm going to do a mini preparation to try to end the year in Europe with a good feeling. There are still tournaments to come if all goes well. I don't know when I'll be back, but when I feel like I'm mentally ready to start competing again, I'll be there.


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