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Rafael Nadal insisted he can nonetheless win the ATP Finals for the primary time regardless of a dangerous 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) defeat in opposition to Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Tuesday. Thiem overpowered Nadal behind closed doorways at London’s O2 Arena to place a dent within the Spanish star’s bid to lastly carry the one main prize lacking from his packed trophy cupboard. Thiem grew to become the primary participant to qualify for the semi-finals a number of hours later when reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6). Nadal, who misplaced the 2010 and 2013 finals of the occasion, has to beat Tsitsipas in his final group match to succeed in the semi-finals of the distinguished season-ending match.
Despite his perilous place, Nadal goes into the showdown in opposition to Tsitsipas, with the winner assured to progress to the final 4, in assured temper after battling exhausting in opposition to the impressed Thiem.
“He played I think an amazing match, and I played well too. So my feeling is not negative. I lost, but I had plenty of chances, said Nadal, who had beaten Rublev in straight sets in his first match.
“I’m proud of the best way I performed. I believe my chances are high greater to have an excellent outcome now than 5 days in the past as a result of the extent of tennis, even when I misplaced in the present day, for me is way larger.”
Nadal, who last month equalled Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams by winning the French Open, has won 86 titles but just one of those has come on an indoor hard court.
The world number two has qualified for the ATP Finals for 16 years in a row, but his record at the eight-man elite event pales in comparison with Federer and Novak Djokovic after six injury withdrawals.
– ‘I have my chances’ –
Potentially facing another disappointment in the Finals, Nadal said he couldn’t explain his problems at the event.
“I believe even when I by no means received right here, I do not wish to fake to be smug in any respect, as a result of I’m not. But I actually need not present even to myself or to nobody that if I’m taking part in my greatest tennis I believe I can win in each floor and in opposition to any participant,” he said.
“I by no means received within the World Tour Finals. That’s the true factor on the identical time. I’ve a match in opposition to Tsitsipas in two days. Gonna be one other powerful one.
“I hope to be ready. I think playing like this I am confident that I can have my chances in the tournament.”
World quantity three Thiem, who defeated Tsitsipas in his opening match, has received his first two matches on this yr’s match as he seems to go one higher than final yr’s runner-up end.
The 27-year-old has already loved a yr to recollect, reaching two Grand Slam finals and successful one of many 4 majors for the primary time when he defeated Alexander Zverev within the US Open remaining in September.
“It’s definitely one of the better matches I’ve played so far in my career,” Thiem stated.
“I believe that in the present day I performed a bit bit larger stage than on the US Open. It was possibly the very best match from me for the reason that restart of the tour and that makes me tremendous comfortable.”
Tsitsipas saved a match level within the remaining set tie-break in opposition to Rublev earlier than the Greek sixth seed sealed his first win of the week and eradicated his opponent.
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“I’m relieved all that effort and fight on the court paid off at the end. I showed determination to not give up when he had match point,” Tsitsipas stated.
“I’m going to try and play an aggressive game against Rafa. You can’t be defensive. I have to start strong and finish even stronger.”
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