Rafael Nadal explains why he was unable to compete with Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal was destroyed by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. Following the match, Nadal confessed he was not physcically ready to perform at the level required to face the Serb. "I think, of course, he played I think fantastic," the world No. 2 said after the 6-3 6-2 6-3 loss. "At the same time is true that when he’s playing that way, I think I needed something else. I was not able to have that extra thing tonight, being honest, no? Yeah, was unbelievable the way that he played, no doubt about that. But at the same time is true that probably physically I was not able. I played fantastic tennis during both weeks, is true, but probably playing that well, I didn’t suffer much during the both weeks. Five months without competing, having that big challenge in front of me, I needed something else. That something else probably today, I don’t have it yet. That’s my feeling, to compete at this super high level. "I think I was playing great during the both weeks in offensive positions. I was not able to work that much the defensive game. I worked a lot on the offensive game, but not that much on the defensive game. To play against a player like him, playing the way he played tonight, I needed that defensive game to finally have the chance to be offensive, no? When he was hitting, is true that maybe was difficult to beat him even if I was at my 100%. But probably will be a little bit more fight." Nadal rejected the notion that he was nervous coming into the match and put the heavy defeat down to Djokovic’s continuous aggression. "I make more mistakes because he pushed more," he continued. "That’s all. Is not about being more nervous. I have been normal nerves, like final of Grand Slam. But the things started so quick. He was pushing me to every ball. ‘I don’t like to say he played unbelievable well because looks like you find an excuse for yourself. The real thing is he played so well. He did a lot of things very difficult unbelievable well. He hit so long. His return was fantastic. He was super quick. "I really believe that he was able to work very hard on the off-season on his movement. He was moving unbelievable well. I felt that good shots came back with offensive position for me, after not a bad shot from me, I have been in the defensive position.’ It was the second time Nadal lost to Djokovic at a major in the past six months, following a remarkable five-setter at Wimbledon but the 32-year-old was hurt more by his defeat at the All England Club. ‘No, you come back home more proud of the level of Wimbledon than tonight, of course," he added. "But in terms of mental pain, is harder the semi-finals of Wimbledon than this one. In the semi-finals of Wimbledon, I was so close, and I was playing so well, having a lot of matches in a row, winning Roland Garros, playing so well on clay. I had that extra intensity in that moment. For me, was a big chance lost to win another Wimbledon. Tonight I didn’t have that chance. Is easier to forget, yes. In terms of personal satisfaction, I have a better personal satisfaction about the match of Wimbledon. "But overall probably was more difficult to do the tournament that I did here than the tournament I did in Wimbledon, because in Wimbledon I came back after winning Roland Garros with big confidence, winning a lot on clay, winning a lot of matches. Is much easier to play that well. If I am healthy, everybody knows I’m a good player on grass, no? ‘I have better personal satisfaction because my two weeks here have been more difficult than what I did in Wimbledon. But about the personal match, that’s what happened, that’s all."

Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal to win Australian Open

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