'Feel the ball better than when you're younger' - Rafael Nadal on needing less matches entering Grand Slams

Rafael Nadal says he does not need to play as many matches at his age going into Grand Slams. The 22-time Grand Slam champion progressed into the third round of the US Open on Thursday after beating Italy's Fabio Fognini in four sets. Ad It did not all go Nadal's way, though, as he went a set down against the Italian not looking his usual self before suffering a nose injury at the start of the second set.

His attempted backhand went wrong and his racquet bounced off the hard court, hitting him in the face and left him bleeding. US OpenUS Open order of play, day 6 — When are Nadal, Swiatek and Norrie playing?4 HOURS AGO The 36-year-old admits to Eurosport's Mats Wilander that the start of his match was «a disaster». «Yesterday was a disaster for one hour and 30 minutes,» he said.

«Then I started to be not perfect of course but much better. I think the third and fourth sets were a bit more normal and today [Friday]. »Grand Slams when you play for three hours the next day, especially at the age of 36, you don't have a lot of room to practice a lot.

It's just about being on court, sweat a little bit, move your legs and find some feelings and that's what I tried. «It's always a challenge when you have to adapt things to play then it's a challenge. Now is the moment to make this and even if I am able to advance into the tournament maybe I will have another chance.