Rio de Janeiro, Del Ray Beach: Rafael Nadal has vowed he will put in more hard work in a bid to get his game back to the level where he can win more tournaments.
The 29-year-old Spaniard endured another frustrating defeat late Saturday when he lost a marathon semi-final in the ATP Rio de Janeiro Open to 45th-ranked Pablo Cuevas 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
It was just the second time since 2005 that Nadal has lost to a player ranked outside the world top 30 on clay. That loss came just a week after he lost in the semi-final of the Argentina Open in three sets to Austria’s Dominic Thiem, also on clay.
Nadal had travelled to South America following his first round loss at the Australian Open in a bid to reverse, on his favourite claycourt surface, the form loss that has seen his world ranking slump.
But the latest defeat will cast more doubts on his ability of once again winning the French Open title in early June, having lost to Novak Djokovic in last year’s quarter-finals.
“I lost an opportunity, that’s it,” said Nadal of his loss to Uruguayan Cuevas.
“I fought until the end. I have to accept it and keep working to try to change the dynamic. That’s what’s happening today and I have to work hard to change it.
“I didn’t win a title, so it wasn’t a positive two tournaments. I had my chances in both. I lost in the semi-finals of both tournaments and just have to look forward to Indian Wells.”
That tournament, the first of the year’s Masters Series events, gets underway in California on March 20 followed by the Miami Masters.
Meanwhile, Juan Martin del Potro’s return to tennis fell short of a fairytale ending on Saturday as the Argentine lost to American Sam Querrey 7-5 7-5 in the semi-final of the Delray Beach Open.
The former US Open champion Del Potro made his comeback at Delray Beach after an 11-month layoff following two surgeries on his left wrist.
He had looked strong in his run to the semi-finals but Querrey checked his momentum by breaking his powerful serve in each set at 5-5 -- the only two breaks of the match.
Del Potro, 27, was aiming to recapture his magic at Delray Beach where he enjoyed comeback success by winning the 2011 title after fighting his way back form wrist surgery.
Former world number four Del Potro, who stunned none other than Roger Federer in the 2009 final at Flushing Meadows, has been frustrated by a succession of injuries since his sole grand slam title.
Results
Rio de Janeiro Open (Men’s singles semi-finals): Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) beat 1-Rafa Nadal (Spain) 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-4/sGuido Pella (Argentina) beat 5-Dominic Thiem (Austria) 6-1 6-4.
Delray Beach International (Men’s singles semi-finals): Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) 7-5 7-5; Rajeev Ram (U.S.) beat 4-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 6-4 6-3
