Nadal: "I have to give continuity to the good things and extend them as long as possible"

"I am much thinner than in recent years"

   MADRID, 16 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal, champion of the Australian Open in 2022, valued his debut in the first 'Grand Slam' of the season against the British Jack Draper, a victory in four sets (7-5, 2-6, 6-4 , 6-1) after which he has to "give continuity to the good things and extend them as long as possible".

"When you come from long periods of injuries it is much better to start in smaller tournaments that allow you to win matches. Unfortunately, after paternity, injuries and whatever, my return to competition has been in Masters 1000, indoor track, now in the United Cup playing against two 'top' rivals, it has all been very difficult", analyzed the world number two in statements published by ATP on Monday.

The man from Manacor regretted that in the first games of the year, although he had "options to win", they had not "fallen" on his side. "But today yes. Every time I'm a little more prepared," said the winner of 22 'Grand Slam'. "I think that the first set has been very orderly in every way, I have not made large unforced errors or tactical errors, I have done what I had to do at all times. As the first set of the tournament it has been very positive", he explained .

"I have not been angry at any time, I have tolerated mistakes. It was important to forgive myself for things as they happened, the priority was to win the game and, knowing that things were not going to be perfect, I had to have the humility to accept that the things were going to be difficult", he added about his premiere, which was not easy, with a meeting that lasted for almost four hours.

However, Nadal, 36, endured without apparent physical problems, something that has to do with his new weight. "I am much thinner than I have been in recent years, I have made efforts, I have been working hard for weeks, then the results have to come out and we work to get them out. Today has been progress for me and we must continue", applauded.

"It was an important game, because in the end when you work, you want results. But patience is something that I have controlled well during my career, with the injuries, with the moments that I had to accept the difficulties. And physically I think I'm fine, My legs have felt good, I'm more or less fast or at least that's how it seems in training", he added about his fitness.

Finally, the Spaniard stressed that he beat a "good player" in his debut. "Almost any seeded player wanted that first round. Accepting all this, beating a rival of a very good level is the important thing. Things that I have certainly done, starting from this base, what you have to do is give continuity to the good things and extend them as much as possible, "he settled.