Rafael Nadal: The Man To Beat

Rafael Nadal's scintillating form has made him the man to beat at the US Open, according to Novak Djokovic.

The Spaniard has a 15-0 record on hard courts in 2013, having won Masters titles on the surface in Indian Wells, Montreal http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23662040 and Cincinnati. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/21825356 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23748310

His success is all the more remarkable as he only returned from a seven-month injury lay-off in February. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/21347524

“Nadal is definitely back and playing maybe the best tennis that he ever has played on hard courts,” said Djokovic.

The world number one added: “He's definitely so far the best player this year. There is no question about it. The results are showing everything.”

Defending champion Andy Murray admitted Nadal will be “very difficult to beat” in New York.

Murray, who expects to play his opening match against Michael Llodra on Wednesday, has been hugely impressed by the 12-time Grand Slam champion's form.

“It's hard not to be,” said the 26-year-old Scot.  “He hasn't lost yet because he's beaten some tough players in tough tournaments, winning the two tournaments back to back in Cincinnati and Canada. I think it's only been done once before.

“I think Roddick did it once [in 2003], so it doesn't happen often. It's not like he's had easy draws or whatever. He's beaten some top, top players.”

Roger Federer, a five-time champion at Flushing Meadows, was in agreement, having lost to Nadal in the Cincinnati quarter-finals. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23734672

“I'm clearly very impressed,” said the Swiss, who plays Grega Zemlja in Monday's night session. “Especially seeing him play really well on the quicker hard courts.

“It would be different if it was just Indian Wells and Miami where it's very slow over there, and then Montreal and Cincinnati would have been first round [losses].

“But he won those as well, and he showed also on the quicker hard courts he's someone to be reckoned with.”

Djokovic, the 2011 US Open champion, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/14875901 was beaten by Nadal in the Montreal semi-finals http://thechronicle.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/115.jpg and said the Spaniard's knee issues have affected his style of play. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23654106

“He won three Masters events,” said Djokovic, who is in the opposite half of the draw to Nadal in New York.

“He won it in great style. He was very aggressive, and he seems like he changed a little bit the game.

“He stepped in a little bit more. He knows that now he has to be a bit more aggressive than he usually is because of, I guess, his knees and everything and because hard court is not clay. It's not his favourite surface; it's faster.

“I'm sure he worked on that, and you could see that all the work he put in is getting results.”

Nadal, the 2010 champion in New York, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/8992563.stm agreed he had been more attacking in his outlook on hard courts since returning to the tour.

“I think you can play aggressive when you are playing well,” he said. “That's the first and important thing. It's true I'm trying to take the ball a little bit early, that I worked on my game to be a little bit more aggressive.

“But at the same time, it's true that in the past when I was playing well on this surface I had good success too. So it's not something crazy that changed today, that I had the chance to play well on hard.”

Second seed Nadal begins his bid for a second US Open title against American Ryan Harrison  today.

Rafael Nadal`s impressive return from a seven-month injury layoff, with a haul of nine titles including a French Open and an unbeaten 15-match hard court run, has made him a marked man at the US Open.

After healing the nagging knee injuries that have bothered him for years, Nadal dominated on his beloved clay with wins at Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Madrid, Rome, Barcelona and Roland Garros for his 12th career Grand Slam crown and eighth French Open title in nine years.

But what impresses his rivals on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts, where the year`s final Grand Slam event starts Monday, is his unbeaten run on hard courts, taking titles at Indian Wells and in August at Montreal and Cincinnati in his US Open tune ups.

Nadal, for his part, plays down his performance. “I had a great summer, but that`s all. Doesn`t mean nothing else,” Nadal said. “I hope to be very competitive for the first match.”

Djokovic sees a more attacking Nadal adapting to the hard courts to help ease the stress on his knees.

And 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, who could face Nadal for the first time at a US Open in the quarter-finals, has been dazzled by Nadal`s performance.

“I`m very impressed, especially seeing him play really well on the quicker hard courts,” Federer said.  “He is someone to be reckoned with.'

“He has had an incredible season so far. So, I mean, it`s super impressive and I hope for him he can keep it up.”

Nadal does not give all the credit to a change in game plan on hard courts. “I think you can play aggressive when you`re playing well,” he said. “I am trying to take the ball a little bit early. I worked on my game to be a little bit more aggressive.

“But at the same time, it is true that in the past when I was playing well on this surface I had good success, too. So it`s not something crazy that changed.

“I am confident for here. It`s great because I won two very important tournaments. Here is a different event. I`m going to keep trying my best and I hope to be ready.”

Nadal did sound a warning for the ATP that hardcourts would shorten the careers of the game`s top stars.

“For the future generations it would be better if the ATP can find a solution because the hard court is still a little bit too aggressive to have a very long career,” Nadal said.

Nadal, Murray and Djokovic each seek a second Slam title this season and a leg up in year-end world number one honors.

“If I am number one, it will be amazing, amazing season for me,” Nadal said. “If I am not number one, it still will be amazing season for me. This tournament is going to make a big difference.”