Rafael Nadal admitted he struggled to produce his best at the ATP World Tour Finals this week.
"I probably had a bit less passion for the game because I was more tired than usual," Nadal told the press. "This was a tough year but I'll do all to be perfect for the start of 2012."
The Spaniard made a disappointing exit in the round robin stages in London this week, suffering a crushing defeat to Roger Federer and losing out to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the battle to make the semi-finals.
Nadal's season is not yet over, he has the Davis Cup final to look forward to next weekend and he was determined to stay optimistic looking ahead to the start of the 2012 season.
"It's the moment to analyse what I did good, what I did bad, and know what I have to work on for the next month," he said. "The end of the year wasn't easy for me; that's hard to accept. But it gives me more of a goal for the beginning of 2012. I dream about arriving in 2012 with very good conditions."
"The only way to change the situation is to work more, think more about tennis, do everything in the right shape, do everything good inside the court, everything good outside the court. I have to work hard - working hard every day, morning, afternoon - if I'm going to have my chance to be competitive to win the big tournaments. My goal is there. My motivation, I hope, the same. I will do it."
