Nadal keen to improve in Cincinnati

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal reflected on his "okay" performance in the quarterfinals in Montreal last week against Japan's Kei Nishikori, and expressed confidence that he can create a "different story" here this week.

"I played okay in Montreal, but every week is a different test, a different story. I'm working more than ever to change the dynamics," Nadal said on Tuesday stressing that the result of the first set against Nishikori should have been 3-3 and not 1-5, but "that is what happened", reports Efe.

The World No.8 added that Nishikori simply outplayed him on that day, especially during key points.

The Spaniard is nonetheless going into the second half of the season with positive vibes, fuelled by his German Open victory in Hamburg against Italy's Fabio Fognini, which Nadal called an "important win".

Despite his confidence, and with no more clay court tournaments left in the season, Nadal expects the second half to be more challenging. But what matters for him is to end the year with a feeling that he has done well and exhibited a significant improvement in his performance.

The last time Nadal won here was in 2013 while he will start this year's tournament against the winner of the match between American Rajeev Ram and Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who reached the semifinals in Montreal before losing to World No.1 Novak Djokovic.