The 36-year-old, who wants to defend his title from the previous year at the Australian Open in Melbourne, which starts in two weeks, remained optimistic.
“I need battles like this,” said Nadal. The Mallorcan has had an injury-plagued year in 2022 and now wants to start again. “I need hours on the pitch,” Nadal explained that match practice is what counts most at the moment. “I haven’t played many official games in the last six months, almost seven. Days like this help me. Of course, winning goes faster, but I have to keep fighting. At times I played good tennis.”
Physically he feels good, but the pace on the pitch has to improve, then self-confidence will also increase, according to the second in the world rankings. “I still have two weeks until the Australian Open starts. I can’t say that the situation is ideal, but at the same time I can’t say that it’s negative because I played well at times,” Nadal summed up.
Alexander Zverev’s comeback after a serious injury has not gone according to plan either. The German is far from his best form, after losing to Czech Jiri Lehecka, the German lost 6-1, 4-6 to Taylor Fritz of the USA in Monday’s United Cup. Physically, he is “not yet at the level I need to be,” admitted the 25-year-old. “I get tired a lot faster than before. I’m not as fast as I probably was.” The main goal at the moment is to get back to the usual form.
As a result, Germany also lost the duel with the USA. The Americans meet Group D winners Great Britain in the next round of the Cup. The winners of each of the two groups from the three host cities of Sydney, Perth and Brisbane will meet in the “City Finals” on Wednesday to determine who will finish in the last four. The fourth semi-finalist is the “city final” loser with the best record from the three games of the tournament.
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