Rafael Nadal made no excuse for his defeat in the Paris Masters 1,000 semifinals against Alexander Zverev and, although he considered that he played a good game, he recognized that the German was superior. “I have played against an excellent rival and I accept the defeat. I have had a good behavior throughout the game, I have competed, as during the week,” said the Spaniard, who considered that he will be ready to play the ATP Finals from London, starting on November 15. “I have played four games, I have missed some adjustments, I have a little more than a week ahead of me and I think I will be ready,” he said.
Nadal acknowledged his disappointment at the loss that deprived him of one of the three Masters 1,000 he has not won, but was satisfied with the improvement in his indoor hard court game, the same setting that will be found in the British capital. “I have played against a very fit opponent, I think I have played better than other days, against a top level opponent I have not played badly. Maybe I understood too late how he had to subtract, he was serving very well, he had won two indoor tournaments. I have fought to the end, I have lacked a little, there are positive things and others not so much. With that I begin to prepare the last tournament of the year for me, “he said.
Nadal analyzed that, compared to the three previous games in Paris, his direct hit improved, although he acknowledged that he does not have the same security with the backhand. That is one of the improvements that is required with a view to the ATP Finals: “I have to improve the rest a little and the reverse a little more. I can serve at a slightly higher level. With a little more rest and a little more confidence in the reverse I am not wrong. I trust to be competitive. I have to see it this way. I can be competitive. “
Nadal acknowledged that he had options when he managed to regain the serve against in the second set, but at that point the German played well. “I wanted to get to the playoff game because I was in a rising position. But the opponent comes from winning two tournaments on this surface with the same balls, things that he has more automated than me. And it is one of the best in the world. He has been better than me and I am going home satisfied with having a week in which I am mentally well, at times I have played good tennis. It is not a negative week after many weeks without playing indoors. I have reached the semifinals, I hope to arrive in London to be as competitive as possible, “he added.
Nadal denied that he has a curse with him Masters 1,000 of Paris, one of the three that has not won. “Not winning a Masters 1,000 is not abnormal. Of the 9 times I have played here I have reached at least the quarterfinals. You play with the best in the world on a difficult surface. It is true that sometimes I have had to retire due to injury, but the only curse is that others have been better than me, “he commented.