London, November 27, 2009

Sadly, Rafa was eliminated from the season-ending World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena yesterday -- the showdown between the year's top eight players -- losing 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the group stage on Wednesday.

Today though, Rafa will play again (not before 2:15 pm. local time) to help decide the last semi-final spot in Group B (Soderling has already qualified, and therefore the last spot can go to either Djokovic or Davydenko). Davydenko plays Soderling, while Rafa faces Djokovic.

"I didn't arrive to this tournament with the full confidence that you need to win these matches. And in the moments that I had to play well, I didn't play well. I had mistakes," Rafa admitted before telling everyone that he was going work hard in the off-season to ensure his game is back to his best for the 2010 season.

"The season is done, and I am playing difficult surfaces for me. When the season is going to start next year, probably I am going to play a little bit more favorable surfaces for my game”.

"Practising and working a lot, that's the way for me, the only way to improve the situation. That's what I did all my life."

Rafa is due to contest the December 4-6 Davis Cup final, in which Spain host the Czech Republic in Barcelona. After that, the world No.2 will head back to his native Mallorca to work on improving his game..

"I have motivation to play my best tennis again. When you have this goal and you have this motivation, it doesn't matter if you are tired or not. So I am ready to start practising and to start playing in 2010," the Australian Open champion said.

"I don't know how far I am from my best. The important thing is, when this change can happen, be ready to do it."

(AFP)

Vamos Rafa!