Nadal aims to carry Olympic boost to US Open

By Daily Sports on August 28, 2016

Rafa Nadal was exhausted yet exhilarated following his emotional return to action at this month's Rio Olympics after an injury-absence and is looking forward to gearing back up for the U.S. Open starting on Monday.

"If you're not excited about the U.S. Open, you're not a tennis player," Nadal told reporters.

Injuries are affecting several top players heading into the last grand slam of the year in a season made even more hectic with the Olympics squeezed into the schedule.

Men's top seed Novak Djokovic, like Nadal, is also dealing with a wrist injury and women's number one Serena Williams is coping with a sore right shoulder.

Lefthander Nadal, sidelined after being unable to play his third-round match at the French Open because of an injured left wrist, decided to test himself in Rio.

"I was two months and a half outside of the competition, and not only outside of the competition, outside the practice courts. I couldn't practise," the Spanish fourth seed said at Flushing Meadows on Friday.

Nadal, 30, said he was determined to give it a try in Rio and ended up feeling good enough to compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

"The motivation, the passion, sharing moments with the team helped a lot," said Nadal, who reached the Rio singles semi-finals and won gold in doubles with his friend Marc Lopez.

"Winning a gold medal is always something unique, and I think I enjoyed it as much as I can during the whole event," he said.

"I finished the tournament completely exhausted ... no more energy inside of my body."

Nadal carried on straight from Rio to Cincinnati where he won his opening match before losing to teenager Borna Coric of Crotia.

"I am better, I am a little bit better," said Nadal. "It's true that the wrist bothers me a little bit less every day. I need to understand again to hit my normal forehand. During the wrist injury, always you try to find movements to avoid the pain.

"Today I can start the forehand, I think my normal forehand, but still needs time to feel that I am more confident on my wrist. But I am practicing well and I am competing well."

Nadal hopes his Rio elation carries over to the Open, which he won in 2010 and 2013.

"I have been playing at a very high level. So that helped me to play well in the Olympics, and I hope it's going to help me to play well here," the 14-times grand slam winner said.

"When you go to the Olympics and finally you win a medal, it's just the most important thing that you can do. So I'm just very happy for that, one medal for my country."

Nadal will play his first-round Open match against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin, who reached the fourth round in New York in 2012 but is 7-20 this season.

Culled from Reuters. Photo shows Rafael Nadal

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 28, 2016


 

You may also like...
HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN: Joshua vows to ‘go to war’...

Gyan dismisses rift claim with Andre Ayew

Croatia and Nigeria fight for life in Group...

Uzoho Hopes to Write a ‘Good Chapter’ on...

Anthony Joshua Warns Wilder and Fury over Fight...

Ancelotti Backs Benzema To Win Ballon d’Or

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,389 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,397 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,545 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,219 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,004 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,882 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,768 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,223 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,272 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,183 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,633 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,208 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media