Rafael Nadal is aiming at winning a medal at the next summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after a season of ups and downs. He dropped to world number 10 in June but finished in the top 5 after a good end of the season.
After losing to Tomas Berdych in the quarter final at the Australian Open Nadal won his first title of the year in Buenos Aires on clay. The Spanish star lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarter final at the Roland Garros ending his winning streak of 39 consecutive victories in Paris since losing to Robin Soderling in 2009. Nadal won his first title on grass in Stuttgart since Wimbledon 2010 but lost in the second round at Wimbledon to Dustin Brown. During the summer Nadal won his second title on clay of the season after beating Fabio Fognini in Hamburg. Nadal lost against Fognini after an exciting third-round match at the US Open in which the Italian came back from two sets down to win in five sets. This defeat ended Nadal’s 10-year streak of winning at least one Grand Slam title.
After the US Open Nadal reached the final at the ATP final in Beijing (losing to Novak Djokovic) and at the ATP 500 in Basel (losing to Roger Federer) and reached the semifinal at the ATP Finals in London where he lost against Djokovic. Nadal hopes to maintain the form he showed in the second half of the year in 2016.
“I want to be among the best next year. I have confidence that I will start the year well. I am playing well and I have reached a point where I am recapturing a good feeling, and when one reaches a difficult moment and returns to playing well, the desire and the energy are greater ”, said Nadal.
Nadal is bidding to win a second Olympic medal in Rio eight years after clinching the gold medal in Beijing 2008. Four years ago Nadal was forced to pull out of the London Olympic Games because of an injury.
“I am really excited to be at the Olympics. I said that pulling out of 2012 was one of the most difficult moments of my career, possibly the thing that hurt me the most, but there are plenty of objectives before then. I am going to compete in everything they give me in Brazil because they are the Olympics and you want to make the most of that, and to compete in the singles and the doubles”, said Nadal.
Nadal talked about the chance to play against 2015 Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza in the mixed doubles.
“I don’t know. I have honestly not spoken to Muguruza not has it been raised so far. My intention is to play and also it will be the choice of those who are helping us to be there. Garbine has had a fantastic year and she is a very good option. My main objective is to compete well and enjoy myself as I have over the last few months. If that happens, it will be because I feel good and competitive and the objectives will be the same as ever”, said Nadal.
A few weeks ago Muguruza did not rule out her participation in the mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics with Nadal. The Spanish star of Venezuelan origin expressed her enthusiasm for the Olympic Games in Rio after receiving the Bronze Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit awarded by the Spanish Government through the Higher Sports Council.
