Tennis Update: Rafael Nadal eyes 2011 Australian Open Grand Slam
Presently, ranked no. 1 in the World, Rafael Nadal clinched the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles in the year 2010, marking it as the best twelve months of his career so far. Rafa is currently gearing up to bag the 2011 Australian Open Men's singles title, which would put him in an elite group amongst the likes of Don Budge and Rod Laver.
“For sure it is a special thing. It is an important one, for sure, and that’s what I’m going to try. All Grand Slams are special tournaments but to win a tournament in Australia is great. I will take one game at a time. The first round is going to be very difficult so if I can win four in a row it will be a special motivation further ahead,” stated Nadal.
According to the Spaniard, the competition is going to be just as tough in the year 2011 as it was in the previous season and he would have to work hard to maintain his level of performance. Rafa praised fellow professionals such as Tomas Berdych, Andy Murray, Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic, saying that such players have a chance to win.
“I’ll try my best. The 2011 season is going to be a difficult one. I will try to play my best and fight every ball. Sometimes trying your best works like last year and sometimes it isn’t like this. But I’ll enjoy every moment and keep fighting,” said Rafa.
Talking about his fitness, which was a point of concern as he saw a slump in the year 2009, Nadal stated that he is fine now and that the season is always too long for him. The professional added that he decided not to stop for December this year, but is looking forward to playing in Abu Dhabi, Doha and then taking rest after playing in Australia.
Additionally, the Spaniard stated, “The focus is always the same. For me it’s a pleasure to be here in Abu Dhabi. It’s the perfect place to start the new season. Just try my best and play well. All the players here are good so it’s very well if I had a chance to be in the final. It’s not the most important thing for me. But will try to play well and find my best performance. I want to win the first match of the year and always give my best.”
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