I’m confident that I can play well, says Rafael Nadal ahead of US Open

Rafael Nadal interacting with the press in New York on Wednesday. (Source: Reuters)

Former world number one Rafa Nadal is feeling confident about his chances of competing for a third U.S. Open title when the tournament starts in New York next week.

“I hope to be ready for it. I have been playing well the last couple of weeks. I think I’m in better shape than a few months ago then arrived the competition and everything that happened,” the 29-year old Spaniard told Reuters.

“But I’m confident that I can play well.”

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Nadal, who won the U.S. Open in 2010 and 2013 but missed last year’s tournament due to illness and injury, was ousted from Wimbledon in a shock second round exit but has claimed three titles in 2015 — Hamburg, Stuttgart and Buenos Aires.

The eighth seed was speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event for a Tommy Hilfiger underwear campaign the 14-times grand slam tournament winner stars in on Tuesday.