Nadal admits being nervous following Medvedev loss

In 2020, Rafael Nadal attempted to win one of the very few titles he misses again, but he failed to go past the semifinals at the 2020 ATP Finals.

His final opponent from the 2019 US Open final was now the one who stopped him. Nadal was already serving for a match in the second set, but he failed to finish the match and Medvedev then showed his extra class to win the match. After the match, Nadal said:

“I think at the beginning of the match he was better than me,” Nadal assessed in his post-match press conference. “I was able to save my serves with troubles, but then I played well to have the break and then to close the set."

“In the second, a little bit the same story at the beginning, but at the end of the set I was playing a little bit better than him. And then in the 5-4 I think he played a good game and I didn't. I played a bad game. That's it. But I had a big opportunity. I lost a big opportunity.”

“I think I achieved enough to not find an excuse about the pressure,” Nadal said. “I know I won enough matches and enough tournaments in an even more difficult situation than this one... So I don't feel that way.

“I feel I played a bad game. Of course you are nervous to win the match. But not [only] me, everybody. [It] is normal to have the tension. I think he played some good points and I made a couple of mistakes.

“Small details make a big difference. Just well done for him and not enough good for me.”

“My goal is always the same: to go to every tournament and to give myself a chance to compete well and to try to win it,” Nadal said.

“That's the goal of every year. My motivation [has] been always the same. Next year is going to be an important year. I hope to be ready to fight for the things that I want to fight [for]. I'm going to work hard during the off-season to be ready for the beginning.”

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