Rafael Nadal recognized, after his victory against the Australian Jordan thompson that he qualified for the quarterfinals of the 1,000 Masters in Paris for the eighth time, that he has to improve his game on hard court, where he had not played for eight months. “In the first set I was very good (…) In the second he served better and I missed some shots. I haven't played on hard court for almost a year, the improvement process continues. I hope these games help me improve. I think I have to improve, “said the Spaniard after winning 6-1, 7-6 (3).
Nadal stressed that he knew “suffer when you had to suffer and finish when you could”, and he stressed that except for the set point he raised in the second, with 5-6 on the scoreboard, he did not feel danger at any time. The Spaniard acknowledged that he made “some more mistake than he (would) like” but that he can “go satisfied.”
Nadal assured that he has to adapt to a track where he has not had the best results and to a tournament that is missing from his record, the only Masters 1,000 along with those in Miami and Shanghai. “Last year he was one of those who was playing better in this tournament until I injured my abdominal. I have not played on this surface for a long time. But They have won two games and it is time to take a step forward, I have done a job to be able to give it, “he said.
His rival will be Pablo Carreño, with whom he was eating before their respective matches on Thursday and with whom he said he had a very good relationship. Nadal also spoke of the negotiations with the tournaments to reduce the endowment of the same. “It is time to be together and be flexible, both players and tournaments, to survive as much as possible. We have to work so that when this pandemic passes we continue to have a good circuit with general economic health. It is time to buckle up and make efforts to keep everything moving forward, “he said. As a member of the players' council, Nadal assured that now” everyone has to row in the same direction “and” not each seek his own benefit and think in the general good more than in the personal ones. “