RAFAEL NADAL CLAIMS he should not be considered the favourite for his French Open final clash with fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Sunday.
The seven-time champion came through an epic semi-final encounter with Novak Djokovic on Friday, eventually sealing a 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 9-7 victory.
And, though Nadal is gunning to become the first man in history to win a single grand slam eight times, he says he will not take his compatriot lightly.
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“I don’t feel a favourite, I feel that I am a finalist,” Nadal said.
“I arrive in the final playing well, I have improved a little bit in every match during the whole tournament. It is always important to arrive to the final with the right feelings.
“But he (Ferrer) didn’t lost a set throughout the whole tournament, so he is a player that brings you to the limit, he is a player that if you are not playing perfect you will be in big, big trouble.
“Tomorrow will be a great day for the sport in Spain. It is very difficult to make that happen. Two Spanish players in the final of a grand slam, so it’s a fantastic day for us.”
Nadal is still in the process of restoring his men’s tennis ranking having missed seven months of action due to a knee injury sustained at Wimbledon in 2012.
But the left-hander says he is feeling fresh ahead of Sunday’s final, despite requiring over four-and-a-half hours to defeat Djokovic.
“I got a little bit tired but nothing dramatic, so that’s important always because the day after a match like yesterday there is always a scare about how you will feel,” he added.
“I had good feelings practising. I’m going to recover this afternoon and have a rest and try and be ready for tomorrow.”
Nadal dismisses favourite tag ahead of French Open final
RAFAEL NADAL CLAIMS he should not be considered the favourite for his French Open final clash with fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Sunday.
The seven-time champion came through an epic semi-final encounter with Novak Djokovic on Friday, eventually sealing a 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 9-7 victory.
And, though Nadal is gunning to become the first man in history to win a single grand slam eight times, he says he will not take his compatriot lightly.
“I don’t feel a favourite, I feel that I am a finalist,” Nadal said.
“I arrive in the final playing well, I have improved a little bit in every match during the whole tournament. It is always important to arrive to the final with the right feelings.
“But he (Ferrer) didn’t lost a set throughout the whole tournament, so he is a player that brings you to the limit, he is a player that if you are not playing perfect you will be in big, big trouble.
Nadal is still in the process of restoring his men’s tennis ranking having missed seven months of action due to a knee injury sustained at Wimbledon in 2012.
But the left-hander says he is feeling fresh ahead of Sunday’s final, despite requiring over four-and-a-half hours to defeat Djokovic.
“I got a little bit tired but nothing dramatic, so that’s important always because the day after a match like yesterday there is always a scare about how you will feel,” he added.
“I had good feelings practising. I’m going to recover this afternoon and have a rest and try and be ready for tomorrow.”
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Championship point David Ferrer french open Rafael Nadal Tennis