Nadal stays optimistic as doctors check his knee (Australian Open Notebook)
By DPA, IANSFriday, January 29, 2010
MELBOURNE - His ranking may be set for a fall to fourth in the world on Monday, but Rafael Nadal has more pressing matters on his mind after his return to Spain for tests on his injured right knee.
The defending champion, who lost to Andy Murray in the Australian Open quarter-finals - he quit with knee troubles in the third set - voiced optimism upon his return to Barcelona that he would be able to recover quickly.
Opinions from the Nadal camp appear to be mixed on the prognosis, with a scan conducted Thursday and an examination by Spanish federation doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro expected to more precisely diagnose the problem.
In Spain, Nadal sounded optimistic: “I’m not worried. It’ just a small niggle. I hope to recover in a week.”
The one-time world number one said that the complaint was similar to the injury that struck him last year in the third round of the French Open, contributing to his loss to Robin Soderling and an inability to play at Wimbledon and defend his 2008 title.
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Even Federer amazed by his Grand Slam semi-final run
Roger Federer brings the confidence that only 15 Grand Slam titles can convey into his semi-final matchup with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as the Swiss favourite passes another milestone.
The match with the 2008 finalist is Federer’s 23rd consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, a stat that amazes even the man billed as the best to ever play the game.
“You always believe the streak is gonna be broken,” he confessed.
“I stopped thinking about it after the second round (last week) on and just started focusing on the tournament. It helps once the tournament starts. You focus match-for-match and point-for-point.
“I forget about the record now, obviously, that it’s safe again and I’ve been able to add one. It’s amazing, definitely one of the most incredible things I have in my resume.”
