By Chris Oddo/ Thursday, January 16, 2014

 

Rafael Nadal was so far removed from tennis that he barely even watched the 2013 Australian Open. Look at him now.

Photo Source: Corleve

Rafael Nadal told reporters that he didn't watch last year's Australian Open final while beginning his preparations for his return to tennis. The revelation was a stark reminder of just how far Nadal has come in the last 12 months.

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With his future very much in doubt, Nadal says he remembers watching snippets of the Federer-Tsonga quarterfinal while he was training in Barcelona. He also supported his fellow compatriots, watching pieces of the Almagro-Ferrer quarterfinal and the Ferrer-Djokovic semifinal.

Q. Last year at this time what were you doing and how much did you follow the Australian Open? What times of the day did you follow it?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, last year I was starting to practice. I remember that. I was in Barcelona practicing a little bit on clay. And was hard to see Australian Open, because in Spain only shows Australian Open Eurosport.

I don't have Eurosport in my home (smiling), so was a tough situation to see.

But anyway, I saw a little bit, a few matches. I was able to see that when I was in Barcelona. Was practicing the tennis in Barcelona and there they have the channel. I saw a little bit the match against Federer/Tsonga I think.

Saw a little bit David Ferrer against Almagro and David [Ferrer] against Djokovic, and I was not able to see the final.

"The main goal is keep improving in all aspects, no? But is true he has a great serve to be 17, so keep doing that.

"The normal thing is he will be serving better and better every year. Forehand, he has a good forehand. The normal thing is if he is able to improve with being humble, being with the right people around that don't make you feel you are a star before the right time.

"So he will have the chance to be a great player. That's my feeling. He has everything to do it."