Nadal takes positives out of Australian Open thrashing

Rafael Nadal said he took a lot of positives out of the Australian Open on his return from injury, despite being thrashed in the final Sunday by Novak Djokovic.

The Spanish second seed had played an outstanding level of tennis at the tournament without dropping a set until he met his arch-rival on Rod Laver Arena.

And he had no answer to the world number one's booming groundstrokes and precision serve to limp out of Melbourne Park 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Nadal said he still wasn't at his best after his injury-plagued 2018.

"Was unbelievable the way that he played, no doubt about that. But at the same time it is true that probably physically I was not able (to compete at that level)," said Nadal.

"Five months without competing, having that big challenge in front of me, I needed something else. That something else probably today, I don't have it yet.

"That's my feeling, to compete at this super high level."
"I really believe I played a great two weeks of tennis, there's a good energy and good inspiration for what is coming."
- 'I need matches' -
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"I need matches, but I can't go crazy to play matches," he added. "I have my age. I have my calendar. I have my priorities. My priority now is come back home, have some rest."