- LATEST
- WEBSTORY
- TRENDING
SPORTS
Rafa Nadal says he needs time to get confidence back
An unenthused Rafa Nadal played down his form at the Australian Open and said he would need more time to regain his confidence.
Updated : Sep 27, 2017, 07:03 PM IST
)
TRENDING NOW
)
AR Rahman, Saira Banu's daughter Raheema opens up on parents' divorce being linked to Mohini Dey: 'Always remember...'
)
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni reveals Rishi Kapoor's last two wishes: 'He wanted to see Ranbir Kapoor getting...'
)
Sana Khan, former Bigg Boss contestant, actress announces 2nd pregnancy with Anas Saiyad: 'Only Allah has power to..'
)
'Good to be back': After breaking up with Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor reunites with his 'partner-in-crime after ages'
)
'Your dance lightens up...': Little girl's dance on 'Tere Bina na Guzara E' steals hearts online, WATCH viral video
)
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan tells Amitabh Bachchan: 'I hope people don't...'
)
This Pakistani Influencer's private video leaked online, days after Minahil Malik and Insha Rehman's clips
)
After breakup with Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor dedicates his new tattoo to this special person in his life
)
32-year-old superstar forcibly kissed 15-year-old co-star; left her traumatised, crying; later laughed about it saying..
)
Shillong Teer Results TODAY November 22, 2024 Live Updates: Check winning numbers here
)
Amid Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan divorce rumours, Jaya Bachchan says 'not my daughter' in viral video
)
Telecom rules to change from January 1, Mukesh Ambani's Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL will be affected due to...
)
Gandii Baat, XXX actress Aabha Paul sets Instagram on fire with hot photos
)
Meet Mathira Khan, Pakistani influencer whose private video leaked after Minahil Malik, Imsha Rehman
)
Shweta Tiwari's wedding photos with Bigg Boss 13 contestant Vishal Aditya Singh go viral, here's the truth behind them
An unenthused Rafa Nadal played down his form at the Australian Open and said he would need more time to regain his confidence after digging himself out of a hole against Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Defending champion Nadal, who has not missed the last 16 of a grand slam since the 2005 US Open, has set himself modest goals at Melbourne Park and was not feeling more bullish about his prospects after being stretched to a 6-4 6-2 2-6 7-5 win over the German in the third round.
"Well, it wasn't bad," Nadal told reporters after the three and a half hour match.
"I think because I won, so I am happy for that. I am less happy about my game, what I was practising. But, yeah, you know, everybody has not very good days."
The Spaniard had not dropped a set in his first two matches at Melbourne Park and appeared set to do the same against 27th seed Kohlschreiber, but the German threw caution to the wind at two sets down to scramble back to force a fourth.
The tactic came undone at 5-5 in the last, however, an unforced error giving Nadal the break and allowing the Spaniard to coolly serve out and seal the match with a sweetly-struck winner.
Nadal, who defeated Roger Federer in a classic five-set final last year, has struggled to reach his fist-pumping best since being struck down by knee tendonitis after the French Open last year.
He has not won a tournament since April and was bundled out of the ATP Tour Finals in London after losing three straight matches there.
"If I lose here next round, I am gonna have chances to play well during all the season," said Nadal.
"So the Australian Open is a very important tournament, but it is not the end of the world. You have a lot of time to get your full confidence, to play well."
Nadal said he would need to be more aggressive ahead of a fourth-round encounter with big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who bounced out compatriot Ivan Ljubicic 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6.
"Always a really difficult opponent, no, because the match is decided in a few points.
"So the thing is to concentrate hard on my serve all the time and try to convert the small opportunities that I can have on the return. That's it."
