Rafael Nadal of Spain practices on day three of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Monday. (AFP)
Agencies/Cincinnati, Ohio
The ever-positive Rafael Nadal is confident he can end a disappointing season on a high note as he prepares for an assault on the US Open.
The 14-times Grand Slam winner is competing this week at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters, which he won in 2013, the last time that he played the tournament.
After an injury absence which decimated his 2014 season, the 29-year-old has been fighting all year to make improvements to a ranking which dropped to tenth after he failed to win a tenth Roland Garros title in June.
“The last part of the season is important. I want to finish feeling better than when I started,” said the eighth seed.
“This is an important week for me.”
Nadal arrived in the Midwest after losing a Montreal quarter-final to Japan’s Kei Nishikori,who withdrew from the American tournament with a hip muscle problem which should be right for the US Open starting in a fortnight.
“I played OK in Montreal, but every week is a different test, a different story. I’m working more than ever to change the dynamic,” said Nadal.
‘DISRESPECT’
Nadal added he is puzzled by the habit of some younger players who walk onto the court wearing audio headphones over their ears.
Seeing teenaged competitors oblivious to any roar of the crowd as they enter, the 29-year-old tennis traditionalist with 14 Grand Slam titles admits that, frankly, he’s puzzled.
“I don’t know the reason, I don’t understand it,” said Nadal, speaking at the Cincinnati Masters. “I listen to music before the matches, but I take the headphones out a minute before going onto court.
“When you go on court and the crowd is cheering for you, it’s good that you are hearing that. If you have on headphones you only hear your music.”
Nadal, who began his career at a tender age during his “pirate pants” period, said he felt more respect for the crowd when he feels with them and not with myself.
“It’s all about respect more than anything else.”
The Spaniard added that the recent on-court sledging in Montreal between Australian Nick Kyrgios and Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka over the Swiss player’s private life is not giving tennis the kind of image it has always nurtured.
And Nadal has little time for the entire controversy.
“Being young is not an excuse at all. I started at age 16, other top players arrived at a young age.
“I don’t want to say much about this, but when we [say] things on the court we are in front of the cameras and the audience - and most important we are in front of kids.
“This sport has always been gentlemanly. It’s about respect shaking hands after the match and being respectful with umpires and the opponent and with the crowd.
“If we want to keep the game like this we need to be strong when all this (controversial) stuff happens.”
