Rafa Nadal arrives in Madrid looking to maintain momentum on clay; Djokovic handed tough opening test
Top-ranked Spaniard will play in the Madrid Open this week trying to add to his titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona
Patience paid off for Rafael Nadal.
It was Nadal’s mental resilience, not his intimidating topspin forehand, that helped the top-ranked Spaniard overcome a difficult injury lay-off and get off to an impressive start to his season on clay.
“I was patient and had the right attitude to try to get to the clay season as fit as possible,” Nadal said. “Coming into the clay season having played only four matches is not the ideal preparation, but to be honest, I feel that I’ve been playing well.”
Nadal was out of action earlier for a couple of months earlier this year because of a lingering right hip injury that forced him to retire in the Australian Open quarter-finals and kept him from playing in Indian Wells, Miami and Acapulco.
“They were difficult times. I feel like I’ve missed a lot of important opportunities in my career (because of injuries). I counted all the majors in which I was not able to compete in normal conditions and there were a lot,” Nadal said. “They are unpleasant times. To make it through it, you have to be patient.”
