13 years have passed since Rafael Nadal lifted his first ATP Tour title in Poland. Since then he has developed into one of the sport’s all-time greats, but the Spaniard admits that his game has changed with age.
This season, Nadal returned to world No.1 for the first time since 2014. Heading into the Shanghai Masters he already has six titles under his belt, including one from the recent China Open. In the race to end the year as world No.1, he leads second place Roger Federer by 2370 points.
”During the year it never was my goal to be where I am today, but of course I always say the same. It Is much better be No. 2 than No. 3 and No. 1 than No. 2.” Nadal told reporters in Shanghai on Tuesday.
During what has been a record-breaking career, Nadal has so far won 75 trophies on the ATP Tour, including 16 in grand slams and 30 in Masters 1000 tournaments. Reflecting upon his career so far, the Spaniard admits that he has lost some elements of his game due to age.
“Of course I’m not playing 100% the same. Of course the essence of my game is probably the same, but during the years and during your career, of course you lose things.” He explained.
“On your way you lose things that you have when you are younger, so you need to act on other things to keep being competitive.”
The response from Nadal came after he was asked if he watched videos of his younger self to compare to his current level. His reply was direct and to the point – ‘no one plays the same.’ Arguing that it is the same scenario for both Federer and Novak Djokovic.
The question remains as to how Nadal has managed to stay at the top of the men’s game for so long if he has ‘lost things’ in it. He has been ranked in the world’s top-10 since April 2005. The answer is his ability to adjust to the changing trends of the men’s tour.
“The best news for me is after a lot of years I am still competitive, I still enjoy tennis. I think I am able to adapt my game to the new times. That’s the important thing for me, and I feel lucky for that.” Said Nadal.
“But at the same time, I feel that I worked all my life with the right attitude and passion for and love for this sport to try to make that happen.” He added.
With retirement nowhere in sight for the 31-year-old, Nadal is certain to continue being a powerhouse in the world of tennis. He will start his campaign at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday against America’s Jared Donaldson.
