Nadal’s recent performances give him the motivation to go on and bodes well for 2016

IT'S NO SECRET THAT RAFAEL NADAL has been going through a rough patch in 2015. Although the 14 time Grand Slam champion has won 3 titles this season, Nadal has remained a mere shadow of himself. Losing matches from the jaws of victory has been the biggest impediment in Nadal’s progress in the rankings. 

Simply put, for the first time in 10 years, the Spaniard has not won a Slam or 1000 Masters. That said, Nadal’s performance in the recently concluded tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai (his only two semi-finals on the hard courts thus far in 2015) has once again generated interest and expectation amongst the fans. 

With the season drawing to a close, the World no.7 has already set his sights on 2016 and has been pretty vocal about it. Over the past few months, Nadal has been constantly talking about trying to make some finer adjustments in his game. 

Speaking to MARCA after the Shanghai Masters, Nadal said,  

“We are training more specific things we had not done in recent years. Returning closer to the baseline, trying to lose less court. Things that I already did in Beijing and I am trying, even though they do not turn out perfect. But I think I have enough time from now till next season to go on perfecting the changes.”

Nadal has been widely regarded as a player with ‘nerves of steel’, combined with the ability to close out epic contests. However, in 2015, the Spaniard has choked and crumbled inexplicably. But like always, Nadal has been candid about the entire issue in the press. 

However in the past few weeks, Nadal has been working on getting his emotions in check and is confident of overcoming the nerves going ahead, 

“I have not lost the mental strength. What I have lost is the control of myself, of the emotions. I have had more anxiety than I should. I have not lost the mental strength because I’m working as usual, even more. I’m very excited, motivated and working more because my physical condition allows me to do it. I have worked to solve this and is quite fixed now. The anxiety is disappearing more and more and I feel I am almost perfect and that allows me to enjoy the practice sessions and, above all, the matches.”

Nadal has already qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals in London and is not trailing World no.6, Tomas Berdych and World no.7, Kei Nishikori by much. With Basel 500, Paris Masters 1000 and the World Tour finals lined-up for the next few weeks, the Spanish Bull might well finish 2015 on a high with a possible rank of 5. 

The Spaniard has never been perturbed about breaking records and believes in enjoying the process of getting back to the top of the men’s game. 

“I know who I am and I know what I have done. And I know what I am trying to do to go on. It cannot be a disappointment after winning 14. If my career ends today, it will have a career I would have never dreamed of. That does not take away the motivation to go on enjoying tennis and I still enjoy it now. 

TFG NEWSLETTER: Exclusive and Stimulating articles delivered Free into your Inbox every day! Subscribe to TFG TIMEs