In an interview with DPA, Rafael Nadal says that the key to a more successful 2012 will be to rest more and to regain some mental freshness. Nadal won Roland Garros for a sixth time, but lost to current world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in six finals.
Nadal also denied that he has serious physical problems. "It’s been mental exhaustion, but I hope to overcome these past months that have not been positive," said Nadal, who added that he has never seen a psychologist and isn’t planning on hiring one. "I've missed a little passion for the game, the intensity of my shots, strength in my legs and mental intensity. The most important thing lacking is the mental strength that leads to everything else… The main thing is to play again with the passion and intensity needed."
Nadal says that while he does not mind analysts saying that his mental strength is his best weapon, "People are very wrong when they say that I am a physical player. There are many people who can run faster than me."
The Spaniard disputed the contention of Boris Becker and other analysts who said that one of the reasons for his losses to Djokovic was that he went cross-court too much to the Serb's backhand, his stronger side.
"That’s too simple," Nadal said. "I don’t believe that. At times this year when I played him I have not been at the level [that I was in the past], and that’s the reality. That my forehand is not harmful to his backhand ... well it hurt him in the past, at Indian Wells, at Miami [where Nadal lost tight three-setters]. I see it more a mental issue. Maybe I hit three shots from the baseline and have been able to last to the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh ... With just three maybe I [wasn’t effective enough], but with more maybe I will be. That's what I have to do next year, not just against him, but also against the whole world."
Nadal added that he began to encounter problems with his serve after the start of the year, has a "coordination complex," and in order to do better in 2012, that he must serve harder and more accurately. He also said that his reflexes slowed in 2011 and he must return to normal.