MADRID (Spain): World number 2 Rafael Nadal said his 6-4, 6-4 loss to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Open quarterfinals on Friday was a “step back”.
Nadal has now fallen early in two clay-court Masters tournaments ahead of the Grand Slam in Paris, after going out in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals last month before winning in Barcelona.
“I took steps forward, but when you go up a staircase, there are times when it happens that you take a step back, that’s what happened today,” said Nadal.
Even in Barcelona, however, he needed to save a championship point to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
Nadal is hoping to clinch a 14th Roland Garros title and record-setting 21st major in the French capital next month.
“It’s a week where there were a lot of positive things. I’m leaving Madrid with good feelings in general, and the bad one having played a match like today.
“Now, what is the goal before Roland Garros? Go to Rome (for next week’s Italian Open) and win, that’s all.”
Nadal had been hoping to reach the semifinals of a Masters event for the 75th time.
“I had the match under control at the beginning and was playing well for six games, probably playing better than him,” he added.
