Nadal racquet-weight change will only complicate 2012 start

Jan 3, 2012, 5:43 GMT

Doha, Qatar - Rafael Nadal has given himself a huge handicap as he attempts to start the 2012 season by breaking in a heavier racquet.

The world number two will test his form with his new-style stick as he plays this week's ATP event in Doha, where he lost the 2010 final to Nikolay Davydenko and went out in the semi-finals a year ago to the Russian.

The 25-year-old Nadal, winner of 10 Grand Slam trophies, has barely had time to recover from helping Spain to the Davis Cup a month ago, plus dealing with a chronic shoulder injury which he hopes is now under control.

'In theory, we're supposed to practice two weeks with the racquet, three weeks, one month almost,' he said. 'In the end we finally practiced one week. I'm here now and it's probably not enough. But I'm going with it.'

Nadal said he made the switch to a slightly heavier Babolat to try and gain some of the power he feels has gone missing from his game.

'I'm excited to start another season. This tournament, the beginning, will not be easy for me. My preparation is not the perfect one. I felt I was also losing a bit of control on the ball. I now don't feel the forehand as well as before.

'I think this (change) can help me for me in the future. After Davis Cup final I had all the racquets prepared at home. It's the right time to change at the end of the year, when else would you have the time?

'I have to make an investment in my game, thinking the change will be better in the future. But it's a risk for the beginning of the season. But if you don't take risks, you never improve - though I'm expecting more unforced errors as a result.'