Rafael Nadal: I had many doubts after loss to Fabio Fognini
In an interview to L'Equipe, Rafael Nadal recalled what his feelings were following his straight-set loss to Fabio Fognini in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals. The Spaniard said: "There were some days of doubt. What do I need? Just stopping for a few days before my body gets to 100 per cent again? Or keep going? After the match against Leonardo Mayer in Barcelona, I spoke with my team and to myself too: 'The French Open takes place in four weeks, I think it will be complicated in Barcelona and Madrid, but those tournaments need to make me improve.' I did not just think about the French Open but about my personal goal: gaining confidence back on my body, mind and tennis. That's all about your mind. And when things got clear again, my mindset changed, I became positive again, with the attitude needed to reach my level. And from then it's better day after day. It was normal to have setbacks, I did not play well against Stefanos Tsitsipas but that's not normal. I felt much worse after the loss against Fabio Fognini. I knew that it was part of the process and that I was ready to play much better in Rome where I used to do well. Little by little, my dynamic started there and the truth is that now I am happy because I played well."
What has changed the most in his tennis career? "It's not really easy to compare 2005 and 2019. In 2008, it was already much different than in 2005, as well as now... Many things have happened over those for almost 15 years. I have a better position on the court compared to 2005. My serve is better as well as my knowledge and understanding of tennis. But my legs and the freshness of the youth was something I lost little by little. But the key essence of my relationship with tennis, I believe it has not changed."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2XgNqik
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