Rafael Nadal has declared himself to be in ‘good shape’ heading into the Australian Open as he brushes aside the significance of his winless start to 2023.
The world No.2 began his season at the inaugural United Cup competition where he suffered back-to-back defeats to Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie. In both of those matches, Nadal won a set before losing. The Spaniard has now lost six out of his last seven matches played on the ATP Tour which dates back to the US Open fourth round.
Nadal will be hoping to return to winning ways at the Australian Open where he will be seeking to win the tournament for a second year in a row and extend his record Grand Slam trophy tally to 23. He will be the top seed in the draw following the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz due to a hamstring injury.
“Well, it’s true that the last couple of months I was not able to play much tennis and at the beginning of the season I lost two matches in Sydney, but honestly, I am not unhappy with the preparation,” Nadal told reporters on Tuesday in Melbourne.
“I need to win matches for sure. But the preparation is going quite well, practising a lot and I think I am in good shape.
“Then you need to demonstrate that in the matches, in the official tournaments.
“But I’m confident that if I am able to have this last week of positive practices, why not?”
This year will be the first full season where Nadal will be balancing fatherhood with life on the Tour following the birth of his first child last October. Joining the likes of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Daniil Medvedev who all have children. When asked if his new responsibility as a father has affected his tennis, the former world No.1 swiftly dismissed such a suggestion.
“It’s about adapting to this new part of my life in all ways,” he said.
“You need a little bit more organisation than before without a doubt.
“But it’s the first time that happens in my life.
“So I need some time to adjust to all the things that are going to help me to stay the same as before, but I think I have all the things around me that help me to keep going without problems.”
Should Nadal triumph at the Australian Open he would become only the third male player to win a major title after turning 36. Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer are the only players to have achieved this milestone in the history of men’s tennis.
The Australian Open will begin on Monday. Outside of the French Open, Nadal hasn’t won the same Grand Slam two years in a row.
