Rafael Nadal praised by Man Utd star after Australian Open final loss
RAFAEL NADAL has been praised by Manchester United footballer Juan Mata for his performance in the Australian Open final.
Nadal says he will 'keep fighting' after Australian Open loss
The Spaniard lost in straight sets to Novak Djokovic, after not losing a single set in Melbourne up to that point.
Nadal’s loss stopped him from securing an 18th Grand Slam title, while his Serbian opponent moved closely behind with 15, seven of which have come at the Australian Open.
The 6-3 6-2 6-3 defeat was humbling for the 32-year-old, who admitted after the match: “It was unbelievable the way that he played - no doubt about that.
“But at the same time, it’s true that probably, physically, I was not able to play fantastic tennis throughout both weeks. It’s true.
Nadal an example for all whether he is winning or losing
“I can’t be sad, it would not be fair to be sad. I played against a player today that was better than me.
“It’s so difficult for everyone, when he plays at that level, to fight for victory.”
Despite Nadal’s honest assessment of his performance, the left-hander received praise from compatriot Mata.
On his weekly blog, One Hour Behind, Mata wrote: “Away from football, the past week has played host to the Australian Open.
Australian Open: Djokovic praises Nadal in speech after win
“Novak Djokovic was the deserved winner, after playing the tournament at a very high level.
“When he does, it is very tough to beat him.
“Rafa Nadal also stood out, who on top of completing the difficult task of getting to the final, also shone in defeat as always.
“[He is] an example for all whether he is winning or losing.”