Nadal focuses more on future

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball during his men's singles semi-final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 5, 2013.[Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - Spaniard Rafael Nadal said on Saturday that he will focus more on his future than the No.1 spot after he reached the final of the China Open.

Nadal headed into the 2013 China Open final in an easy fashion after his opponent, the fourth seed Tomas Berdych retired in their semifinal due to back injury. The triumph made Nadal the No.1 again after Djokovic stayed at this spot for 101 weeks.

The 27-year-old Spaniard expressed his joy of being No.1 again and his wish to Berdych: "Something that is present after a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt. Was sad to make it this way because Tomas had to retired, so I hope to see him recovered for Shanghai."

However, compared with returning to the No.1 spot, it's his hard work that satisfied him more: "It's just a number. What made me happy is all what I did to be back where I am today more than be what I am today."

According to Nadal, this is not the right time to begin celebration.

"Celebrations are for the end of the season, not before. This season is not over. My work is not over," said Nadal, it seemed that he has started to focus on the games afterwards, "Remain a match tomorrow. Remain Shanghai.I am No.1 today, but it's not done for the end of the season."

Some suggested him to play a light schedule next year for he has quite a stunning performance after 7 months of absence this season, but Nadal disagreed with that.

"No," he said, "It was not a rest for me. Was a hard period of time. Was not my decision to stop for 6, 7 months."

"And for the next season, as I did during all my career, I going to do as much as I can in every match that I going to play."