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Only Djokovic can beat me, claims confused Nadal

Rafael Nadal has lost eight times this season © Getty Images

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Wimbledon Day 13 Gallery
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Rafael Nadal reflected on Sunday's one-sided Wimbledon final and concluded that it is only Novak Djokovic who can beat him, and that it only happens when defeat is self-inflicted.

Nadal was surprisingly candid in his post-match press conference, following a 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 loss to Djokovic that saw the Serb confirm his new-found status as the world's best player. Nadal could not handle the cross-court backhand of his rival, and he was made to play desperation tennis far more than fans at Wimbledon have grown accustomed to seeing from the two-time champion.

Sunday's loss was Nadal's eighth of the season, and his fifth to Djokovic. All five of those defeats to the Serb have come in finals, with his other losses arriving against Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Nadal was hampered by injury at the start of the season in those reverses against Davydenko and Ferrer, and he was tired following the French Open when downed by Tsonga at Queen's.

As a result, he concludes only Djokovic can beat him on Tour.

"I've only lost matches this year against him. When I'm healthy, I've only lost against him," summarised the Spaniard. "The other matches I don't like to count because they were different conditions for me.

"When I'm 100 per cent I've lost to him five times, but I'm doing things very well, just not against him. That's what I have to change."

Nadal blamed his mental strength on the big points as the cause for Sunday's defeat, after he missed crucial break points and uncharacteristically sent forehands wide when struggling on his own serve. He believes that, at his best, he is still in control of his own destiny.

"Mentally it was dangerous for me because when I arrived at 5-4 [in the first set] I played a bad game. I arrived at 4-3 in the fourth set and played another bad game. To win this type of match I have to play these points well. These points can change the match," Nadal explained.

"I had break point in the first game of the fourth set, but I didn't play it well. That was a big moment for me because I came back after 6-1 [in the third], but I didn't play well in these moments.

"It happened at Indian Wells, it happened in Miami (both against Djokovic), and it happened here. I don't want to count Madrid and Rome because he played much better than me.

"Three times it's happened. To change that I have to be less nervous at these times, play more aggressive and be confident in myself. If not, I'll be here explaining the sixth [loss to Djokovic]."

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