Rafael Nadal says this week’s Swiss Indoors event could prove crucial to his plans in 2016.
The Spaniard defeated Grigor Dimitrov in three sets on Wednesday to book his place in the quarter-finals where he will face either Marin Cilic or Teymuraz Gabashvili.
Nadal has again had his season truncated by injury and, with only two events left on the calendar, is already planning for next season.
After having to spend so much time on the practice courts, the 29-year-old admits he is glad to be back in the action and says he will embrace every opportunity he gets in Basel as it can help him rediscover his form.
“The most important thing of a victory is that I have another chance to play to practice on the things I need for 2016 in order to be very competitive,” he said. “The things are going better, there aren’t other solutions than working.
“What do I do in practice? I try to work on the things that I believe to do in the important moments, hoping that little by little I do it more automatic.”