Don't expect a Roger Federer-like renaissance from Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard said so himself.
That's not to say that Rafa isn't trying to make his way back to his spot among tennis' elite. He already showed big improvement in the last quarter of 2015 as he climbed back up from No. 10 to No. 5 in the world rankings.
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But Nadal isn't going to change his tactics, tennis.com reported, as did Federer, who this year implemented his famous "SABR" strategy -- "Sneak Attack By Roger" -- in which the 34-year-old Swiss star moves up on an opponent's second serve and hits a half volley deep to back up opponents and dictate the pace of the point.
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It helped Federer stay in the top two for most of the year, though he finished No. 3 in the season-ending rankings. Nadal just wants to regain the consistency that helped him reach No. 1 as late as 2013.
"I'm not Federer, I'm Rafael Nadal. He has his style and I have my own style," Nadal told AFP as reported by tennis.com. "I for sure try to improve many things during all my career and for sure I'm working hard to be a better player. And if I am a better player for sure I will have the chance to play a bit longer."
The second inference to Nadal's response is in reference to his health issues because of his aggressive style of play. Federer's finesse game has allowed him to stay near the top of the rankings without a lot of wear and tear on his body.
Nadal, 29, always has been more of a grind-it-out, outslug and out-rally style that has taken its toll on Rafa's knees.
The Spaniard did win 14 Grand Slams, including nine French Opens, so he has reason to feel that his tradition strategy works just fine. Whether he can hold up while recapturing that form remains to be seen.
But any renaissance Nadal has will be to his former self.
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