Rafael Nadal upbeat ahead of 2015 US Open

Despite struggling in the past two ATP seasons, Rafael Nadal remains upbeat about his chances in the upcoming 2015 US Open. The former world number one has vowed to play with passion in the next tennis Grand Slam tournament and hoping that the results will be better for him compared to his most recent tournaments.

"The passion is there," Nadal said in a press conference in New York as reported by Reuters.

Nadal added that he’s “feeling well” days before the tournament. The Spaniard has struggled with his health the past two years with various injuries to his wrist, back and knees, among others.

"I need to keep working with the same intensity and passion and I believe the results will come back,” Nadal added in the same report.

With the injuries, Nadal’s performance on-court took a dip as well. From being ranked number one in the world on June 23, 2014 he fell all the way down to World No. 10 about a year later. Nadal is currently ranked No. 8 in the world.

Nadal, who has won two US Open titles in his career, in 2010 and 2013, is one of the best players in the history of the sport with a total of 14 Grand Slam titles.

So far in the current ATP season, Nadal has a win-loss record of 42-14 with three titles across his name.

Nadal beat Fabio Fognini, 7-5 7-5 in the final of the bet-at-home Open German Tennis Championships last July and defeated Victor Troicki, 7-6 (3) 6-3 in the final of the Mercedes Cup last June. Nadal also won over Juan Monaco, 6-4 6-1 in the championship round of the Argentina Open last February for his first title of the year.

The 2015 US Open will be held from Aug. 31 to Sept 13 at in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.