Philosophical Rafael Nadal vows to come back stronger as he still has time on his side

Rafael Nadal’s wait for a title in 2019 continues, but the Spaniard insists if he manages to stay fit and “play properly” he will win trophies again.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner was sent packing from the Madrid Open by Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday with the Greek winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in two hours and 34 minutes.
It means Nadal is yet to win a title on any surface this year with his best showing a runners-up spot at the Australian Open, but it is his form on clay this year that will be of most concern as he also failed to reach the finals in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona.
The 32-year-old, though, is not too downbeat as he believes he will taste success again.
“I think that it’s more normal what is happening right now, than what happened in the past 14 years,” he said. “I think I have tennis ahead of me. I have time ahead of me. I’ll be able to try to win this kind of tournament that I was not able to win this year. And what I have to do is to be fit and to play properly and a high tennis level.
“If I manage to do that next year, I think I will still have a very good opportunity to fight for all of these titles and for the rest of the year, I still have two [clay-court] tournaments. And we will see what happens there.”
He added: “Tennis is about winning or losing. I have been able to win a lot for a lot of years on this surface. And this year, it seems that’s not the way and I am really close to it, but not managing to win.
“You just have to accept it and I have to accept it naturally. But to accept things does not mean to try to change things.
“But during all my life, I think I have taken the victories very naturally and with a lot of normality. With the losses I’ll do the same. It will be normal and I’m going to accept it naturally.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
ATP Tour
ATP statement: Wimbledon slammed for ‘undermining integrity of the ATP Ranking system’
ATP unimpressed by Wimbledon.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon thrown into chaos as ATP strips Slam of ranking points over Russian and Belarusian player ban
Big, big news as players won’t earn points for competing at Wimbledon.
-
French Open
Iga Swiatek made French Open favourite by former British No 1 Tim Henman
Tim Henman has been impressed by the progress in Iga Swiatek’s game.
-
French Open
Naomi Osaka admits trepidation ahead of return to Roland Garros
Naomi Osaka took questions at Roland Garros for the first time since her 2021 walkout.
-
French Open
Iga Swiatek prepared to handle the heat of being French Open favourite
The world number one has won five successive tournaments and 28 straight matches.
-
French Open
Rafael Nadal praying the pain stays away in bid to win 14th French Open
The 35-year-old was troubled by the issue in Rome last week.
-
French Open
Great British hope Emma Raducanu cleared to feature at Roland Garros
The US Open champion retired during her first match in Rome last week with a back injury.
-
French Open
French Open draw is GOAT fodder for Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic faces a daunting roster of potential French Open opponents but could also strengthen his GOAT claims as a result.
-
French Open
French Open: Naomi Osaka handed tough first round assignment
Naomi Osaka takes on seeded oppostion in the French Open first round.