Oz Open to see new Nadal serve
MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal revealed Saturday he was back to full itness and has a brand new serve to unleash at the Australian Open.
The world number two limped away from Melbourne Park a year ago, forced to retire in pain from his quarter-final with Marin Cilic.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion missed most of the next three months and cut short his season to have surgery on a troublesome foot injury.
He pulled out of a Brisbane warm-up event with a slight thigh strain but declared Saturday his troubles were behind him.
“I feel good. If I am not feeling good, I will not be here,” Nadal told reporters two days before the start of the first Grand Slam of the year.
To better cope, he has remodelled his serve to help extend his career.
“There are always things to improve,” said the Spaniard, who faces Australian wildcard James Duckworth in the first round.
KYRGIOS AIMS FOR TOP 10
Australian Open home hope Nick Kyrgios declared Saturday that he could break into the world’s top 10 if he can get “right physically and mentally”.
But first the world number 51 will need to get past the “unbelievably tough” Canadian 16th seed Milos Raonic in a blockbuster firstround encounter when the year’s opening Grand Slam begins on Monday.
Kyrgios rose to a career-high 13th in 2016, but has steadily slipped down the pecking order since.
“If I get right physically and mentally... realistically I could be top 10. That’s a fact,” said Kyrgios.
SVITOLINA’S DESIGNS
Elina Svitolina is determined to break through and win her first Grand Slam this year with the world number one ranking also in the sights of the confident Ukrainian.
But Grand Slam success has so far been elusive, with just three quarter-final appearances to show in the 25 majors she has played.
Svitolina is hoping that will change as she gears up for the opening Slam of the year in Melbourne starting Monday.
Svitolina, seeded six, opens her Australian Open campaign against Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubio, who she practised with last week.
She is in the same side of the draw as US Open winner Naomi Osaka, and could meet her in the quarter-finals of a tournament she rates as perhaps her favourite on tour.
HALEP TARGETS SLAM 2
World number one Simona Halep Saturday admitted losing the 2018 Australian Open final was a painful moment, but it taught her how to better handle pressure situations which she has since put to good use.
The Romanian was targeting a first ever Grand Slam title in that match against Caroline Wozniacki and looked on track to win before folding in the third set.
The fired-up Dane went on to break again and win 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4, leaving Halep crushed.
“I learned some things from that match. That break (at 4-3) broke me a little bit in that moment,” said Halep.
“Now I know how to manage better if that happens again.”
GROUNDED KERBER
Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber Saturday said her confidence and motivation were sky high and her form good, but she is thinking no further than round one of the opening Grand Slam of the year.
Despite her reticence to look too far forward, the world number two is seen as one of the favourites for the Australian Open crown, carrying good momentum into the tournament after a stellar 2018.
The 30-year-old has the experience to make another deep run at Melbourne Park, having won in 2016.
“Now we have a new season coming, and the motivation is really high again,” she said ahead of her first round clash with Poland’s Polona Hercog.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka admitted on Saturday that she was naturally shy and said one of her key goals in the off-season had been to work on her confidence and become more mature.
The likable 21-year-old Japanese was catapulted into the global spotlight when she won the US Open last year, beating Serena Williams, whose tantrum at the umpire in the final almost overshadowed her achievement.
“For me one of my biggest goals is to be more mature, like to mature as a person,” she said ahead of her opening round clash at the Australian Open against Poland’s Magda Linette next week.