Eyeing the top spot: Nadal looking to dismantle Djokovic in 2016

Spaniard positive despite losing in last-four of World Tour Finals

LONDON: Rafael Nadal said he would have to redouble his efforts to return to form after the worst year of his career if he is to get the better of world number one Novak Djokovic next year.

Nadal’s world ranking sunk to number 10 in 2015 when his long reign as French Open champion ended, before embarrassingly early exits from Wimbledon and the US Open.

But the Spaniard, who has 15 Grand Slam titles to his name, is enjoying a resurgence in form and said his defeat to Djokovic in the World Tour Finals semis on Saturday would not dishearten him as he prepares for 2016.

“My next step is to just keep practising the way that I am doing. I know I need to keep improving things if I want to have chances against Novak next year,” said the 29-year-old. “There a only a few moments in my career when I get frustrated. When one player is better than you, the only thing you can do is to try and find a solution.”

The world number five beat Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Stan Wawrinka in the group stages at London’s O2 Arena in the season-ending World Tour Finals, disputed between the world’s top eight players.

But a red-hot Djokovic proved a class apart, winning their semi-final clash 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets.

“I’m happy about the tournament. Happy about finishing the season with that positive energy. Now I have a week off, and that’s it,” said Nadal.

The former world number one hopes to play in Asia’s International Premier Tennis League next month in order to hit the ground running at the Australian Open in January.

“I practice thinking about what I have to do to be better, then we’ll see if I am good enough,” he said. “My motivation has always been personal, that I want to improve myself. That’s what I’m going to try to keep doing. We’ll see. 2016 is going to be a new year. Hopefully a better one for me.”

And he predicted Djokovic, who took over from Nadal as world number one in July 2014, may be due a dip in form.

“Novak for the moment is almost unbeatable. The only thing you can do is congratulate him,” he said. “But... you never know what’s going to happen in the future.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd,  2015.

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