|
 Nadal spent over an hour practicing on Tuesday and later admitted he
was still in pain from twisting his ankle a day earlier but assured
he would be on court on Friday for his opening match.
“In the beginning I thought it was going to be the end of the
tournament,” Nadal told reporters. “But I don’t know now, I don’t
think so. I think I am going to be able to compete here.
“Today, if I have to say one thing, for sure I am going to be on
court on Friday.
"Another thing is I don’t know how well I am going to be
prepared...let’s see, if every day I am improving."
Nadal will face the winner of the match between Ukrainian Sergiy
Stakhovsky and fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro and the draw has
thrown up a potential quarter-final clash against Czech Tomas
Berdych.
The world number three said he didn’t undergo a scan on his ankle as
he was assured the injury was not that serious.
“I visited the physio of the ATP, they see things like this every
week and they said that it doesn’t look very bad," said Nadal. “It
is still painful but I practiced here today for a little bit more
than one hour.
"It bothers me but I didn’t push myself very hard. I don’t know how
I am going to answer when I try to get at 100 percent, which is what
I need to compete well.
"But I am confident I am going to be ready.”
[to top of second column] |
Nadal lost in the quarter-final at Indian Wells to Canada’s Milos
Raonic but the 28-year-old said he felt his form was an upward curve
as he begins his chase for a first Miami title.
“Every week I am competing," offered and upbeat Nadal, who has 27
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, more than any other player, but
has never found the winner's circle in Miami despite reaching the
final four times. "I am improving a little bit. That gives me
confidence, positive feelings and positive energy”.
(Reporting by Simon Evans.; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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