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 "The passion is there," Nadal told reporters on Wednesday before
taking the court against Australian Lleyton Hewitt at a fundraiser
to support young New York area tennis players at John McEnroe's
tennis academy on Randall's Island.
The 14-times grand slam winner has claimed three lesser titles this
year but has disappointed in the biggest events and seen his world
ranking slip to eight, the lowest he has been since he won his
maiden major at the French Open a decade ago.
After losing to compatriot Feliciano Lopez in his second match in
Cincinnati last week, Nadal sounded almost accustomed to a string of
results that includes two losses to men outside the top 100 and a
13-10 mark against those in the top 30.
"Losing matches, that's part of my career, too," Nadal said, adding
that losing was something "I have to accept now."
Nadal, however, has been upbeat in the run up to the U.S. Open,
which starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows and is his last chance to
continue his run of winning at least one grand slam title in 10
straight years.
"My feeling today is that I am playing much better than most of the
time in the season," said Nadal, who has been relaxed and playful
around town this week, playing a form of strip tennis against some
Tommy Hilfiger models in a midtown Manhattan park to promote a new
line of underwear.
"I have been losing matches that I should win. During the season
there are some key moments that change the dynamic and I lost all
the opportunities to change the dynamic in those key moments."
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The two-times U.S. Open winner (2010, 2013), whose unrelenting
muscular effort on court was a hallmark of his success, sounded
confident about a turnaround in his return to Flushing Meadows after
missing last year with a wrist injury.
"I am happy with the way I am practicing and I'm feeling well I can
say," said Nadal, stressing he has been injury free.
"Now I need to win. And I need to be impassioned.
"I need to keep working with the same intensity and passion and I
believe the results will come back."
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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