Rafael Nadal Didn’t Watch Last Year’s Australian Open Final – Tennis Now

By Chris Oddo/ Thursday, January 16, 2014

 

Rafael Nadal was so far removed from tennis that he barely
even watched the 2013 Australian Open. Look at him now.

Photo Source: Corleve

Rafael Nadal told reporters that he
didn’t watch last year’s Australian Open final while beginning
his preparations for his return to tennis. The revelation was a
stark reminder of just how far Nadal has come in the last 12
months.

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With his future very much in doubt, Nadal says he remembers
watching snippets of the Federer-Tsonga quarterfinal while he
was training in Barcelona. He also supported his fellow
compatriots, watching pieces of the Almagro-Ferrer quarterfinal
and the Ferrer-Djokovic semifinal.

Q. Last year at this time what were you doing
and how much did you follow the Australian Open? What times
of the day did you follow it?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, last year I was starting
to practice. I remember that. I was in Barcelona practicing a
little bit on clay. And was hard to see Australian Open,
because in Spain only shows Australian Open Eurosport.

I don’t have Eurosport in my home (smiling), so was a tough
situation to see.

But anyway, I saw a little bit, a few matches. I was able to
see that when I was in Barcelona. Was practicing the tennis
in Barcelona and there they have the channel. I saw a little
bit the match against Federer/Tsonga I think.

Saw a little bit David Ferrer against Almagro and David
[Ferrer] against Djokovic, and I was not able to see the
final.

After Nadal’s 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old
Thanasi Kokkinakis, Nadal also dished out some
advice as well as high praise for the talented Aussie
youngster:

“The main goal is keep improving in all aspects, no?
But is true he has a great serve to be 17, so keep doing
that.

“The normal thing is he will be serving better and better
every year. Forehand, he has a good forehand. The normal
thing is if he is able to improve with being humble, being
with the right people around that don’t make you feel you are
a star before the right time.

“So he will have the chance to be a great player. That’s my
feeling. He has everything to do it.”

Nadal will meet Gael Monfils in the third
round on Day 6 of the Australian Open.