The Shanghai Rolex Masters could be the stage on which Rafael Nadal makes a return to the top form he was exhibiting in the spring.
After reaching the Indian Wells semi-finals (l. to Djokovic) and clinching back-to-back titles in Monte-Carlo (d. Monfils) and Barcelona (d. Nishikori), the Spaniard looked set to mount a title charge at Roland Garros, when a wrist injury cruelly forced him out of action for two and a half months.
Since his return at the Rio Olympics, where he won the doubles gold medal with Marc Lopez, Nadal has been inching his way back to top form and, on the eve of his Shanghai campaign, explained that he is still hoping for a strong finish to the season.
“I'm not satisfied with my performance [this season] because I got injured for two and a half months,” said Nadal. “I missed very important events. When you come back without practice and you have to compete in another important event without having practice and matches on your shoulders, it's difficult to be satisfied.
“I think if you asked me if I was satisfied during the period between Indian Wells and Roland Garros, yes. I had been competing for every tournament that I played and competing against all the players with good chances to have success. And that's the most important thing.
“The level of tennis had been high during that period of time, but, it took a lot of effort for me. I worked so hard to be what I was in that moment. When you break the rhythm with an injury it’s a little bit unlucky, and you need to accept and give more. And that's what I'm doing. I am trying to finish well and trying to be ready again for next season. That's my real goal.”
Nadal still has plenty on the line this season. He is in hot contention for one of the remaining four spots at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Mallorcan is currently seventh in the Emirates ATP Race To London, with 1,000 points available at the eighth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season this week.
But for the 30-year-old Nadal, the focus is on working hard and continuing to improve his level every day. The rest will take care of itself.
“My only pressure is trying to feel good on court and enjoy doing what I am doing,” said Nadal. “The goal is just to try to finish the season in the best way possible. Having a very painful injury in the worst moment of the year, it's tough to be back and especially when you are back and still with pain.
“I will keep working hard as I did today, as I did yesterday, as I do every day to recover the level of my tennis before the injury.”
Nadal is seeded fourth in Shanghai, where he reached the final in 2009 (l. to Davydenko). The left-hander will open his campaign against Viktor Troicki and finds himself in the top half of the draw with Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic.