Sport | Tennis
Schedule no problem for Nadal
Rafael Nadal does not foresee any changes in his schedule for 2009 in an attempt to end the year as the world's top player once again.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:38 January 7, 2009
- Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal at the ATP Qatar Open on Tuesday.
- Image Credit: AP
Doha: Rafael Nadal does not foresee any changes in his schedule for 2009 in an attempt to end the year as the world's top player once again.
"I have started this year well. I've had two good matches in Abu Dhabi and hopefully I will try and go as much as possible here so that I am ready for the challenge at the Australian Open," Nadal told the media after demolishing veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-0, 6-1 on the centre court in just 46 minutes on Tuesday night.
Nadal is one of the most amazing players to have graced the game. Last year, the Mallorca native became the first left-hander to finish No 1 since John McEnroe in 1984.
In the bargain, he also became the first Spaniard to end the season as the world's top player in the history of the ATP Rankings since 1973.
He led the ATP circuit with eight titles in 10 finals with an amazing 82 match wins. This included two Grand Slams - the French Open and Wimbledon. He also helped Spain to the Davis Cup triumph against Argentina by winning all three of his singles matches during the year.
But all his on-court battles took a toll on his body as he retired in the third round of Paris Open versus Nicolai Davydenko with tendinitis in the right knee. "These things [the injuries] can happen. One can't have everything," he said.
This season too, the top player has planned an identical schedule in an attempt to retain his position at the top of the ATP Rankings.
"I don't know what more I would need to do. For the first time in my career, I played in all the Masters Series tournaments. I did not do any extra tournaments last year. I played in Chennai and Barcelona and then Rotterdam and Dubai. There were no extra tournaments, just the obligatory ones," Nadal explained.
"And then came the knee injury at the end of the season. Such things really cannot be helped," he insisted.
"In 2009, I am thinking of going the same way," he added.
With his goals clear, Nadal stated that the best would be to take one match at a time while also giving 100 per cent on and off the court.
"The idea is to give 100 per cent in all that you do. The important thing is to play matches to win. You never know how far you are from it [an injury]," he shrugged.
"The positive factor here is that you go on court and practise hard."
Ending runner-up at the Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi last week is also part of Nadal's build-up for the Australian Open.
"I got two good matches there [Abu Dhabi] and if I continue winning here then this can only work in my favour in the build up to the Australian Open and the rest of the season," Nadal stated.
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