TENNIS in DEPTH.

Rafael Nadal praised Roger Federer after the Swiss lifted his fifth title at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday. “I feel I lost the match because I played against a very good Roger Federer on one of his favourite surfaces,” said the World No. 1, who remained upbeat despite losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at the London season finale. “When he’s playing like this, it is very difficult to stop him.” Over the course of 22 career meetings, Nadal admitted, “Our relationship hasn’t changed a lot since the beginning because all the time we have been very respectful. So I think it is not a rivalry. We never had any problems in all of our careers.”

This year, 24-year-old Nadal lifted three Grand Slam championships – at Roland Garros (d. Soderling), Wimbledon (d. Berdych) and the US Open (d. Djokovic) – completing a career Grand Slam in New York City and also took a clean sweep of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court titles. He compiled a 71-10 season record. “I think it was a very emotional season. I am very happy for everything and just want to say thank you very much to all the people that supported me when I had the difficult moments and when I was winning.”

Looking ahead to 2011, Nadal insists “the pressure for me is going to be the same. “When I start the season, everything starts. I don’t think about if I have to defend 100,000 points or if I have to defend 1,000 points. In Australia or in Doha when I start the season, I will have zero points. “My first goal is qualification for London next year, and after we will see. I am going to work to be ready and competitive to try to be in the top positions and to compete to keep winning titles. “The goal is the same: try to play well; try to compete against everybody and try to be in the final rounds.”

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