Rafael Nadal has played down the significance of not being able to win the Paris Masters so far in his career after crashing out in the semifinals on Saturday.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion fell in straight sets to Germany’s Alexander Zverev to make it the second year in a row he has lost at that stage in the French capital. Nadal has only played in the final of the tournament once which was back in 2007 when he lost in the title match to David Nalbandian. However, the Spaniard has only played at the event seven times since then due to reasons usually related to injury.
“It’s no curse. It is a tournament on a complicated surface,” newspaper Marca quoted Nadal as saying in Spanish following his loss to Zverev. “Not winning a Masters 1,000 is not an abnormal thing.’
“(I have) Nothing to say about this event. You win or lose because you play with the best in the world’
“The only curse is that the others have played better than me. “
Nadal has won 35 Masters 1000 events which is the second highest in history after Novak Djokovic who has triumphed on 36 occasions. Paris is one of only two Masters tournaments that he is yet to win along with the Miami Open.
Despite his loss, Nadal is taking positives from his time in Paris ahead of the ATP Finals in London. Another event that he is yet to win a title at. So far in his career, the 34-year-old has won 86 ATP titles and earned more than $122 million in prize money.
“I need to find a better feeling with the backhand on this surface because when I hit the ball sometimes I feel that I can miss it,” he explains.
“I have been competitive, I have been there until the end against a player who is playing great on a surface that he’s winning on a lot. So it has been a positive tournament for me.”
Admitting that he will need to make a couple of ‘adjustments’ ahead of London, the former world No.1 believes he is in good form. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a break in the Tour earlier this year, Nadal has only played in six tournaments with three of those being at Grand Slams. Overall, he has a win-loss record of 25-5 in 2020.
“I had the right attitude during the whole event, I think, fighting in every match,” he concluded about his Paris campaign. “That gives me the chance to play four matches that I think will be helpful for London.’
“I need to adjust a couple of things, but I am doing well on all the important things. I have one week and a little bit more to keep working, and I hope to be ready.”
This year Nadal is bidding to become the first player from his country to win the ATP Finals since Àlex Corretja back in 1998.
