Nadal relishing semi-final chance, but missing crowds in London

Rafael Nadal is relishing his first last-four chance at the ATP Finals since 2015, although his only regret is fans cannot be in attendance at the O2 Arena. Nadal booked his semi-final spot with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in London on Thursday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion cruised in the first set but allowed world No 6 Tsitsipas to hit back in the second, though successive breaks at the start of the decider all but settled the contest. Nadal has never won the Nitto ATP Finals, this being the sixth time the Spanish star has made it to the semis in what is the last occasion the season-ending tournament will be played in London before it moves to Turin next year.

“I think I played quite well, for such a long time. That game, 5-4 in the second set, affected me a little bit,” Nadal said in his on-court interview. I think I was quite comfortable until that moment, after that everything changed a bit, I started to serve a little bit worse but at the end a very positive match for me and for me to be in the semi-finals is another important thing.

Is this the year @RafaelNadal takes the title?

He moves into the semi-finals with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over Tsitsipas! #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/x1V6k43uOE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 19, 2020

While delighted to have sealed his last-four place – with a clash against world No 1 Novak Djokovic potentially next up – Nadal is disappointed he can not share the moment with fans, with crowds at sporting events in the United Kingdom still banned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Last year I was a bit unlucky not to be in the semi-finals; the year before I had to pull out. It’s always difficult to play here, against the best players in the world every single day, at the end of the season.

“This year is a little bit different. Sad for the situation, normally after this good match the atmosphere would be fantastic as always. It’s a different story. It’s sad to say goodbye to this amazing place, but it’s what we are facing around the world so I’m just excited to be in the semi-finals and hope to be ready to try my best.”

Nadal – a Nitto ATP Finals runner-up in 2010 and 2013 – also conceded that, with England currently in a state of nation-wide lockdown, he has found it harder to fill his time while not on the court.

“We can’t complain at all, we are very lucky to be practicing our sport in very difficult conditions so we can’t complain. At the same time, it’s a bit more boring than usual with no chance to go out for dinner, so days in the middle are a bit longer. But I’m happy to have a good team around me, I’m trying to stay organised, stay impassioned.”

Nadal joins US Open champion Dominic Thiem, last year’s beaten finalist, in progressing from Group London to the semi-finals.

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