Top seed Rafael Nadal is assured he can flip round his troubling latest win-loss report to efficiently defend his Australian Open title.
The veteran Spaniard has arrived at Melbourne Park with only one victory from his final six matches relationship again to the US Open, together with United Cup losses to Australia’s Alex de Minaur and Brit Cameron Norrie earlier this month.
Coming off an injury-dogged 2022, Nadal takes on Englishman Jack Draper within the opening spherical on Monday, with the world No.40 one of many rising stars of the sport.
Despite his rocky report, Nadal feels he’s regaining the shape that noticed him down Russian Daniil Medvedev within the Open last final yr to earn his twenty first grand slam trophy and transfer away from Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for essentially the most males’s singles main titles.
“It’s true that I have been losing more than usual,” Nadal advised reporters on Saturday.
“I think I am humble enough to accept that situation and just work with what I have today.
“I must construct once more all this momentum, I must construct once more this confidence with myself with victories.
“I didn’t play that bad the first two matches this year – I lost against two great opponents, but having very positive chances to win both matches.
“I might like to arrive right here with a few victories, sure, however that did not occur, so want to just accept that, must stay with it.
“The rest of the parts of my game that I have been working with, I am quite happy and I feel ready in terms of try to play very good tennis on Monday.”
Playing his first grand slam since turning into a dad – and together with his son Rafael with him in Australia – the 36-year-old mentioned his preparation has been first charge.
Despite having a new child he mentioned he’d practised extra up to now three weeks than he had in previous 10 years and was beginning to see the fruits of his work.
“I have been better and better every single week and I feel faster in the legs and playing better with more confidence,” Nadal, who took over the Open’s prime seeding with world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz out injured, mentioned.
“The last three weeks of preparation here have been very positive from my point of view, then I’m going to go on court and I’m going to try my best.
“I really feel prepared actually – the one factor that did not occur in my facet is victories.
“I don’t know what can happen on Monday, but my personal feeling, without a doubt, is better now than three weeks ago.”
Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic is the fourth seed however runaway favorite with bookmakers to win a tenth crown.
However the 35-year-old, who missed final yr’s Open after being booted in another country, mentioned he was affected by a hamstring harm suffered on the Adelaide International.
“I’ve been struggling with that a bit, to be honest, the last seven days but it’s hopefully not the major concern,” mentioned Djokovic, who was nonetheless capable of play an exhibition with Nick Kyrgios on Friday night time.
“So far I’ve been able to train, compete and play points, practice sets so that’s a positive sign.
“Obviously, I’m being a bit extra cautious and I’m not going full out on the coaching classes, conserving the vitality for subsequent week so hopefully it will not trigger a difficulty for me then.”
Djokovic opens his marketing campaign towards Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
