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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 5, 2016

 
Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal opened his 2016 season against Pablo Carreno Busta in Doha.

Photo credit: Qatar Tennis Federation

Playing territorial tennis at the right times could be a key to Rafael Nadal's quest for a Grand Slam final return.

Nadal launches his 2016 singles campaign against compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta at the Qatar Total Open in Doha today.

Video: Nadal is Superhero

The 14-time Grand Slam champion said he spent some of his off-season training time working on his return game and experimenting with more aggressive court positioning.

"All my life I worked with the highest intensity possible, but we worked a little bit different, different thing," Nadal told the media in Doha. "We try to find different positions on court, try to play more inside and we work a lot on the return, too."




Nadal is most comfortable playing several feet behind the baseline, which gives him the space and time to unleash the sweeping backswing of his forehand. Rafa isn't planning on unveiling his own Roger-style SABR play. Nadal said he experimenting with his court positioning is an enhancement rather than a fundamental changes to his baseline style.

"We feel that we need a few things that are different than other years but on the same time without losing the character of my game," Nadal said. "It's obvious that we were able to play and practice all the things that we wanted to practice because I didn't have injuries. That's so important."

Nadal, who conceded he suffered a loss of confidence in 2015, said strengthening areas of vulnerability rather than dwelling on his mental lapses occupied much of his practice time.

"The way that I approach the game is I worked on the things that we believe that we needed to be better player. That's the only thing," Nadal said. "The same, like always. We analyzed what happened last year a little bit, and, you know, in terms of tennis, because the mental part is another story, but in terms of tennis we analyzed what we need to do to be very competitive this year and we tried to work on what we think we needed. Then we hope that we make the right thing, and I would hope to be very competitive."

The 2008 gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics said he will try to play "as many competitions possible" at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Nadal and Garbine Muguruza have discussed plans to play mixed doubles together in Rio.

"I gonna do it my way, and my way is the singles," Nadal said. "For sure, I gonna, when I arrive at the Olympics, I gonna be ready to compete in as many competitions possible. If I can compete in mixed, in doubles, in singles, I gonna do it, but I am a singles player and I am not a doubles player. My motivation is the singles."

 

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