Nadal: 'I Need To Create Pain'

Rafael Nadal, renowned from his ferocious game and battling qualities, says that he will look to restore his sledgehammer forehand in order to return to top form on the ATP World Tour.

Following his opening-round exit to Viktor Troicki on Wednesday at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the former World No. 1 admitted, “I need to recover the forehand. I know I need to hit forehands. Every time that I hit the forehand, I need to create pain for my opponent.

“It is something that is not happening very often now, and it’s something that needs to happen for the next year… If that happens, then, for sure, I need to recover a little bit the electricity in my legs. I need to move faster to hit more forehands. But I need to be more confident with the forehand to make that happen. Everything is a cycle. I need to do the things together.”

The 30-year-old Nadal, who has suffered wrist problems this year, dropped to a 39-14 match record (15-6 at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments).

“I need to play my matches, to practise more and just to keep playing,” said Nadal. “I know what I have to do and I am going do it. I have two-and-a-half months until the new season starts, so I have two-and-a-half months to put myself at the level that I need to be. I have the confidence that I’m going do it.”

The Spaniard is looking to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the 12th successive year. He is currently No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Race To London with just three spots left up for grabs at the season finale, to be held at The O2 in London from 13-20 November.