Rafael Nadal: Indoors not ideal surface for me, I hope to change that at ATP Finals

Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal hasn't won an indoors title in more than seven years but he is optimistic that he will be able to deliver his best tennis at the Nitto ATP Finals and claim his maiden title at the prestigious season-ending event.

Nadal, who has claimed a total of 86 titles throughout his illustrious career, has won only two titles indoors and he admits that specific surface is "not ideal" for his tennis.

Nadal, who equaled Roger Federer's all-time Grand Slam record after winning his 20th Major title at the French Open, has surprisingly never won a Nitto ATP Finals title and he enters the event determined to win his first title at the event at the age of 34.

"We can find excuses or reasons but at the end of the day the numbers are the numbers," Nadal said, per Metro UK.

"I play less indoors if we compare to outdoors in my tennis career but at the same time it is true what you say.

"There are reasons, the indoors is not an ideal surface for my tennis since the beginning of my career, the last couple of years has been better than the beginning of my career without a doubt but that’s the numbers and I can’t say something different.

"I hope to change that this week."

Nadal grateful for having a chance to play 

During his pre-tournament press conference, Nadal acknowledged that being in London and having a chance to have this year's Nitto ATP Finals event is a blessing.

Unfortunately for Nadal and the tournament organizers, fans won't be attending the Nitto ATP Finals this year. 

"We are in the hotel next to the 02, different conditions, we cannot even walk from the hotel which is 200 metres away so we are very lucky to be able to keep playing our sport, that’s the only thing I can say," Nadal added.

"I cannot be negative, I say thanks to the ATP, thanks to the tournaments, thanks to the Grand Slams to make that happen.

"I think these are very challenging conditions of course especially playing with no crowd in this amazing stadium it’s something that is not perfect but we can play tennis so we cannot complain at all, we are very lucky."

This is Nadal's last chance to win it all at The O2 Arena as from next year the Nitto ATP Finals will be staged in Turin.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/36zTbgV