After struggling to beat 111th-ranked lucky loser Martin Alund in the Brazil Open semifinals on Saturday, Rafael Nadal says he’s far from his top form. Nadal returned to the tour last week after spending seven months nursing a knee injury. He will play his friend David Nalbandian in the final.
"I’m missing all the things that make me competitive and give me physical confidence, something I’ve had for my whole career and that right now, given the circumstances, I don’t have,” he told reporters. “I’m playing with what I’ve got and I hope to get stronger every day. ... I’m lacking speed in my reactions. I’m lacking energy when I need it. I’m lacking power in my legs to be able to hit the ball deep."