Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal said he was not able to fully compete at his highest level during his shock losses to Taylor Fritz in the final of the BNP Paribas Open due to health reasons.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion entered into the final on a 20-match winning streak and was yet to lose a match this year. However, his winning run was ended by 21-year-old Fritz who battled to a shock 6-3, 7-6(5), win over the Spaniard. Making him the youngest player to win the men’s title at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic back in 2011. Fritz is also the youngest American Masters 1000 champion since Andy Roddick back in 2006.
Following their clash on what was yet another blustery day at Indian Wells, Nadal addressed the current state of his fitness. During the tournament he had been coping with a long-term foot condition which sidelined him from the Tour last year. He also suffered a pectoral issue during his semi-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz and underwent further treatment during the final.
However, there was also another issue bothering the Spaniard. Speaking during his press conference, Nadal said that he also experienced breathing difficulties.
“Honestly, I wanted to make it perfect before [the] clay,” said Nadal. “[It would] have been very, very, very beautiful.
“Honestly, I am sad because of the way I was not able to compete. It is tough to have these feelings, every day, but especially in the final is very, very ugly. But, yeah, in sport it is not about talking of the past. We need to talk about today, and today is a difficult day for me.
“I had problems breathing. I don’t know if it is something on the rib, I don’t know yet. When I’m breathing, when I’m moving, it’s like a needle all the time inside here. I get dizzy a little bit because it’s painful. It’s a kind of pain that limits me a lot.
“It is not only about pain, I don’t feel very well because it affects my breathing. [I am] more than sad [about the breathing] than for the loss, something that I accepted immediately, and even before the match ended, it’s more about that I am suffering a little bit, honestly.”
Nadal wasn’t the only player nursing an injury. Prior to the final, Fritz’s coach Paul Annacone revealed that his player was advised not to play due to an ankle problem he is suffering from. The American was forced to cut short his pre-match warm-up session due to the issue but refused to pull out of the final.
“It’s obvious that he is improving. With this victory, it’s a great start of the season for him. He will have a chance to be very close if not in the top 10 very soon,” the 35-year-old said of Fritz.
“It’s going to be a big battle there for these numbers because there are a lot of young and great players fighting for these spots,” he added.
Nadal has opted to skip the upcoming Miami Masters in order to switch his focus to the European clay swing. He is set to return to action next month at the Monte Carlo Masters.
