Turin, Italy, Nov 15 (AFP\/APP):Rafael Nadal says he is “going to die” trying to return to the level of tennis that saw him capture a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles after his hopes of a first ever ATP Finals title and becoming year end world number one were all but extinguished on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old Spaniard was speaking after a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in Turin.<\/p>\n
Nadal has lost both his matches in Turin — he fell to Taylor Fritz on Sunday — and will need to win his last Green Group match against Casper Ruud to keep alive his chances.<\/p>\n
Even then it might be out of his hands.<\/p>\n
Ruud — who beat Auger-Aliassime in their opening clash — faces Taylor Fritz later on Tuesday and according to the ATP needs just to win a set in that match to eliminate Nadal.<\/p>\n
That would confirm Nadal’s teenage compatriot, US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, as year-ending world number one. <\/p>\n
“I mean, I don’t think I forget how to play tennis, how to be strong enough mentally,” said Nadal, who was playing in just his third singles match since the US Open in September.<\/p>\n
“I just need to recover all these positive feelings and all this confidence and all this strong mentality that I need to be at the level that I want to be.<\/p>\n
“And I don’t know if I am going to reach that level again. But what I don’t have any doubt, that I going to die for it.”<\/p>\n
Nadal — who has nevertheless won the Australian Open and French Open this year — praised 19-year-old Alcaraz, who is not able to play in Turin due to an abdominal injury. <\/p>\n
“Just well done for Carlos in this case,” said Nadal.<\/p>\n
“Happy for him. Big achievement for him. Well done. Great news for our sport in Spain. He deserved it after a great season.”<\/p>\n
– ‘Very special’ – <\/p>\n
Nadal’s rustiness showed against Auger-Aliassime, who is in the form of his life having won three titles in October.<\/p>\n
“It is great to win against him, and stay alive in the tournament!” said Auger-Aliassime.<\/p>\n
“I have played some great tennis in the past month and to then beat a player of his stature is very special.” <\/p>\n
Nadal spurned all four of his break points in the first set, though his 22-year-old Canadian opponent produced two superb forehands to stave off a break at 3-3.<\/p>\n
Auger-Aliassime by contrast made no mistake breaking the Spaniard with the only one he was offered.<\/p>\n
The Canadian was equally clinical when he was presented with two set points converting the first of them.<\/p>\n
Nadal fared little better in the second set, as the lack of competitive matches showed – he had taken a break to spend time with his son, who was born in October.<\/p>\n
Auger-Aliassime took the match by the scruff of the neck as he broke Nadal at 1-1, the Spaniard sending a loose volley long.<\/p>\n
Auger-Aliassime was hitting the ball with sublime accuracy and could afford a rueful smile when one did not go as smoothly, flying upwards into the roof of the indoor arena.<\/p>\n
Nadal had few chances to put Auger-Aliassime under pressure with the Canadian playing so well but he had a break point — the first of the second set for him — on his rival’s serve at 2-3.<\/p>\n
However, once again he was unable to seize it and Auger-Aliassime went on to hold his serve and was never troubled from that point on, eventually closing out the match on the first of two match points.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Turin, Italy, Nov 15 (AFP\/APP):Rafael Nadal says he is “going to die” trying to return to the level of tennis that saw him capture a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles after his hopes of a first ever ATP Finals title and becoming year end […]<\/p>\n
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