AFP/Melbourne


Rafael Nadal says he’s working “big-time” to get back to his best after an injury-blighted season, but admits to being a long shot at the Australian Open.
The 14-times Grand Slam winner, seeded three at Melbourne Park, missed the end of last year due to appendicitis and has also struggled with ongoing back and wrist injuries.
He faces a tough first-up opponent in Russian Mikhail Youzhny and is not confident of going the distance at the opening Grand Slam of the year.
“I don’t consider myself one of the favourites here,” he said yesterday.
“Last year, yes. This year is a different story. I would be lying if I say I feel that I am ready to win today. I don’t feel myself ready to win the tournament here today.”
Nadal’s biggest problem, apart from needing to recover physically and mentally after an appendectomy, is that he has had very few matches since Wimbledon back in July.
His lack of match fitness was plain to see in Qatar this month when he was humiliated in the first round by 34-year-old Michael Berrer, a qualifier ranked outside the top 100.
Nadal admits he needs more time on court.
“It is a question of time and work and I am working big-time,” he said.
“In theory, playing four, five matches in seven months, you cannot be a favourite of a tournament that is not clay, is on hard (court).
“But I am doing lots of practice and doing the things that I believe I have to do to recover my level.  
“It is true that having a Grand Slam this early in the season after an injury like I had is not the ideal thing.
“But here we are. I worked a lot since 10th of December. I worked a lot the last couple of weeks in Abu Dhabi and Doha, then here this week.  
“I am calm and happy the way I did things. I just need to play better than what I am doing. To play better, I need to win matches. I need to spend hours on court competing.
“The only way to make that happen is to be on the tour. So I am on the tour, and that’s the only way I can come back to my best level.”
Despite injuries that have plagued his career, the Spaniard still managed to win Roland Garros for the ninth time in 10 years in 2014.
He also won the Madrid Masters and events in Doha and Rio, as well as reaching the Australian Open final where he lost to Swiss Stan Wawrinka.
With his more recent form and fitness lacking, Nadal nominated his arch-rivals Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray as the clear favourites in Melbourne.
“I think everybody thinks the same names,” he said.  
“Novak finished the season great. He is a fantastic player. He’s on his favourite surface.  
“Roger is the same story. Had a great season last year. He finished well. Plays on his favourite surface, or one of his favorites, grass and here. And Andy I think is playing well.  
“We’ll see. There is a few more players that are always going to have the chance. But between these three names, it’s a big chance.”