Nadal Ready to Rumble, but not Quite 100 Percent

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Nadal Ready to Rumble, but not Quite 100 Percent

Rafael Nadal says that he’s feeling ready to tackle a new season with all his energy, but adds that he hasn’t had enough time to work himself into peak physical form this early in the season.

More: Recapping the Tennis Week that Was, By the Numbers

The 14-time major champion, speaking at a media engagement to promote his appearance in last night’s Fast4 tennis exhibition in Sydney, said that six matches in two weeks is not enough to place him where he wants to be.

Nadal lost in the quarterfinals at last week's Brisbane International to Milos Raonic. The week prior he went 3-0 at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s not easy to come back that quick,” he said. “It’s not enough to say for playing six matches in two weeks, I am back to my full fitness moment. The only thing that I am sure about is that I worked enough at home and I want to keep working like this.

“Being healthy I am sure that the opportunities to be very competitive are going to come back. If I did not have the chance during the next eleven months I will not be here. Probably I would be at home fishing.

Nadal lost to Nick Kyrgios at last night's fun-filled Fast4 exhibition.

Next stop? Melbourne, where the Spaniard lost in the first round last year to Fernando Verdasco. The 2009 Australian Open champion has failed to reach the quarterfinals at his last four Grand Slam appearances.

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