Rafael Nadal admitted that he needs to improve to rise to the challenge set by world number one Novak Djokovic in 2011.
Nadal’s shock defeat in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters ensured that Djokovic will end the season as top dog, with the Serb 7/1 with bookmaker to win three Grand Slams in 2012 and repeat his feats of the current campaign.
However, Nadal, who lost in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open to Djokovic, is determined to try and regain his place at the top of the rankings.
He said after suffering a loss to Florian Mayer: “It’s been a very positive season, but at the same time a tough season for me.
“I just accept the loss, accept that I have to keep working with the same line for the next two or three months, for the next season and hopefully I can start the next season with more power, with a few things better.”