Rafael Nadal says he didn’t play his best match after suffering a shock loss at the Western and Southern Open on Thursday to former top 20 player Borna Coric.
Nadal, who was playing his first match in over a month due to injury, was knocked out of the tournament 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3. Playing in Cincinnati for the first time in five years, the world No.3 has his chances with two set point chances coming and going in the first set. In the decider, it would be a single break of serve that would cost him.
Despite being a former champion of the tournament back in 2013, Nadal has experienced a mixed record at the Western and Southern Open. His career win-loss record currently stands at 22-13.
“I didn’t play my best match. It’s Something that can happen. Historically this tournament has been difficult for me,” the former world No.1 said during his press conference. “So coming back from a tough period of time, it’s something that is easy to accept and easy to say congrats to Borna that he played better.”
“For some weird reason at this tournament I never had the best feelings. On the other hand, I felt very welcome here all the time.” He later added.
Before this week, the 35-year-old hadn’t played on the Tour since Wimbledon after missing a series of tournaments due to an abdominal tear. He was set to return at the Canadian Masters but decided against doing so over concerns related to his abdomen.
Whilst too much can’t be read into Nadal’s latest defeat on the Tour given his recent absence, he faces a race against time to get back into shape for the US Open which will begin later this month.
“A lot of times coming back from injuries I have done positive things, but in this particular case, it’s obvious that I was not ready enough to win the match,” he admits.
“You lose. You move forward. I know the way. The main thing for me is to stay healthy. It has been a difficult injury to manage, to be honest. The last month and a half haven’t been easy because having a tear on the abdominal, you don’t know when it is 100%. So that affects a little bit in terms of not sure if you are able to try your best in every serve.”
“I need (to take things) step by step,” Nadal added.
Nadal has confirmed that he will now undergo some tests on his abdomen to make sure that the injury is progressing the right way. In the meantime, he will return to the practice courts to improve his game further.
As for the US Open, the 22-time Grand Slam champion is staying coy about his chances at the tournament. He last played at New York major in 2019 when he lifted the title for the fourth time in his career.
“It’s a Grand Slam. It’s a different kind of tournament. But at the same time, it’s tennis, no? If I am not playing well, I will probably follow the same route as here (in Cincinnati),” Nadal commented.
“I need to move forward and just start to think about the energy that the crowd gives me in New York. I know it’s a very special place for me, and I enjoy it. Unforgettable moments there and I’m gonna try my very best every single day to be ready for that.”
As for Nadal’s conqueror Coric, he will play Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round. This week is the first time the Croat has defeated a top 10 player since returning to the Tour following shoulder surgery.