Rafael Nadal says he's "working as hard as I can" to be ready for Monday's start to the Australian Open following a right wrist injury and appendix surgery which sidelined him for most of the last six months of 2014.Nadal went through a strenuous workout at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, followed by a two-hour exhibition match against Mark Philippoussis and Fernando Verdasco as part of a charity night to open the renovated Margaret Court Arena, the Australian Open's third court with a retractable roof.
On Thursday, Nadal said he recovered well from the tough day of workouts, but added it would be difficult to quickly reach the level of fitness to win the title this year "I'm back, and I'm healthy, but it's hard to come back after such injures," Nadal said. "I will hope for first round, second round, and take the wins as they come."
Nadal was knocked out in the first round in a tournament at Doha two weeks ago by a qualifier, but then teamed with good friend, Juan Monaco of Argentina, to win the doubles final, giving him some valuable court time."To start the season with a title, even if it's only in doubles, is a great feeling," the 14-time Grand Slam champion said in Doha. "When you lose early in singles it's a good way to still be in competition. A win is always a good feeling and to have that feeling again was very positive."
"It was an important week because I came back to the tour after a long time not being competitive," he said. "I lost in the first round in a match that can happen."
"I'm going to work hard to be ready for Australia but if that doesn't happen I'm going to keep working hard to be ready for Rio, then Buenos Aires and Indian Wells and Miami." The third-seeded Nadal will find out on Friday who will be play in the first round when the tournament draw is held.
Simon polishes Open form with Kooyong win
Gilles Simon feels his fitness is finally returning after the Frenchman prepared for the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-3 win at the Kooyong Classic on Thursday. The 30-year-old beat Serbian youngster Filip Krajinovic, with experience taking precedence over youth in 76 minutes. In the other relegation-round game, promising Australian Jordan Thompson beat Spanish world number 14 Feliciano lopez 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
Simon's success at the eight-man special event, a tune-up for the first major of the season starting Monday, was reassuring for Frenchman who has been dealing with knee and back niggles over the past weeks. He said he was pleased his body was starting to respond well after tough times last week at the Brisbane International where he exited early in pain.
"It's always disappointing to be injured," said Simon. "I always come early to Australia because I know I'm going to need days to adjust. "It doesn't matter how I play, I just need to get the matches, even if I cannot move well. I was worried last week because after several weeks of physical work nothing was improving.
"I played much better today than yesterday," he said. "And conditions were better so that helped. I'm happy to win this match and take some confidence into the Open." Conditions were much tamer after the swirling winds which limited shotmaking at Kooyong Club on Wednesday, when the tournament began a day late after a rain-off. The 96th-ranked Krajinovic was broken in the second game of the contest. Simon was broken in the fifth game but claimed the set 6-4 in 34 minutes after converting on a second set point with a forehand winner.
In the second set, Simon broke for 4-2 and was forced to struggle in the final game as Krajinovic saved two match points before pushing a forehand long after 76 minutes. In the other Kooyong match, Thompson, who is ranked number 273 in the world, showed his speed around the court behind an impressive serve to outplay 33-year-old lopez. "I played really well today," he said. "He didn't play his best but I will definitely take that." he said.