Nadal have to make a break

World number one Rafael Nadal has said all he needs is some rest to recover from the knee problem that hampered his performance in the World Indoor Tournament final in Rotterdam.

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Nadal lost 6-3 4-6 6-0 to Andy Murray on Sunday with his right knee causing him greater discomfort than the Briton's ankle complaint.

"It isn't the knee, it's lower down. It's a strain on a tendon that above all else stops me from serving well, but we are almost certain there won't be any problems," Nadal said.

The Spaniard is due to compete in Dubai next week and after that he has Spain's Davis Cup opener against Serbia in Benidorm starting on March 6.

"It won't be a problem for the Davis Cup," he added. "It's just a question of having a little rest. I also expect to be in Dubai but we shall see.

"The season has just started but I have already played a lot of games in a short space of time. It's a problem of muscular fatigue."

Reuters

Rafael Nadal new baby arrived!

First class ride for world number one!

The 22 year old Spaniard and world number 1, Rafael Nadal offered him the best of the best, an Aston Martin DBs, after winning his 6th Grand Slam title.

Hope he'll ride it as well as he rides his racquet!

VAMOS RAFA!

Rafa is the Man - Nadal nominates Federer for the Prince of Asturias Sports Award

After arriving back on his native island of Mallorca after a 38-hour journey from Melbourne, Rafael Nadal told waiting journalists that he would nominate world no. 2 Roger Federer for this year’s Prince of Asturias Sports Award, saying that Federer was a great candidate and that he’d really deserve it. “Federer is an exceptional tennis player and an exceptional person,” Nadal said. “I’ve won the prize”, he continued, “and of course I would like it to go to a fellow tennis player and a great friend at that”. Nadal went on to say that he wished Federer all the luck in the world to achieve his 14th Grand Slam title and equal Sampras’ record adding that he felt sure his friend would do it.

Nadal headed back home to Mallorca to take a few days off before playing at next week’s ATP tournament in Rotterdam.

The life and times of Rafa Nadal

Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who won his first Australian Open title with a 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 victory over Roger Federer.

• Career in pictures

MAKING HIS NAME

* Born in Manacor, Majorca, June 3, 1986. His uncle Miguel Angel Nadal enjoyed a long and successful career as a professional footballer, notably for Barcelona and Spain.

* Turned professional in 2001

SIX GRAND SLAM TITLES

* French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Wimbledon 2008; Australian Open 2009

* Became first man since Swede Mats Wilander in 1982 to win the French Open title on debut with a four-set victory over Argentine Mariano Puerta in June 2005.

* A year later, won his second successive French Open title with victory over Federer in the final. Became the first Spanish man to reach the Wimbledon final (losing to Federer) since Manuel Santana won the title in 1966.

* In 2007, became first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win hat-trick of French Open titles.

* The following year matched Borg record of four successive French Open titles (1978 to 1981) to make it 28 wins from 28 at Roland Garros.

* Later in 2008 beat then world number one and defending champion Federer to win his first Wimbledon title. The final was described by some pundits as the greatest tennis match ever.

* In 2009, beat Federer in the final in Melbourne to become the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open in another classic five-set showdown.

OTHER MILESTONES

* Won his first ATP title in Sopot, Poland in August 2004. Later that year beat Andy Roddick to help Spain overcome the United States in Davis Cup final.

* Lost to Igor Andreev in the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open in April 2005 but from then on, won a record 81 consecutive matches on clay before the streak came to an end in Hamburg in May 2007 at the hands of Federer.

* Ended Federer's 4-1/2-year reign as world number one in August, 2008.

* Won gold medal in men's singles at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Reuters