PHOTOS/VIDEO: Rafael Nadal MEDIA DAY at US Open 2018

After winning the Rogers Cup title in Toronto, Rafael Nadal was convinced by his coaching team to withdraw from the Cincinnati. 

“It was preparation. I was resting of competing, not resting of working,” Nadal explained.

“Of course, it is important what happened before a Grand Slam. If you are playing well before, is easier to play well in a Grand Slam,” he said. “At the same time, it’s true that especially a few players are able to increase the level of concentration, the level of tennis, level of intensity in some places. If you have to do it, this is one of the places.”

“Being honest, I always had a great connection with the crowd here. The crowd brings me to another level of energy. That’s something that I enjoy.”

He will open his title defense on Monday against David Ferrer, his former Davis Cup teammate, and though both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are in the opposite half of the draw, Kevin Anderson could await in the quarterfinals for a rematch of the 2017 final.

"Kevin is a great player," Nadal said of his one-time junior adversary. "He's a player that's always improving, always improving."

Source: US Open

Rafa poses with the US Open 50 Years of Championship book

Photos: USTA; EPA; Anadolu Agency; @SouthpawCapture; @AdamZagoria; @ChewyYorkie; @outside_theball; narnah IG

• Practice with Kevin Anderson

• Interview for Eurosport (ES)