<p>Rafael Nadal says he is "going to die" trying to return to the level of tennis that saw him capture a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles after his hopes of a first ever ATP Finals title and becoming year end world number one were all but extinguished on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The 36-year-old Spaniard was speaking after a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in Turin.</p>.<p>Nadal has lost both his matches in Turin -- he fell to Taylor Fritz on Sunday -- and will need to win his last Green Group match against Casper Ruud to keep alive his chances.</p>.<p>Even then it might be out of his hands.</p>.<p>Ruud -- who beat Auger-Aliassime in their opening clash -- faces Taylor Fritz later on Tuesday and according to the ATP needs just to win a set in that match to eliminate Nadal.</p>.<p>That would confirm Nadal's teenage compatriot, US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, as year-ending world number one.</p>.<p>"I mean, I don't think I forget how to play tennis, how to be strong enough mentally," said Nadal, who was playing in just his third singles match since the US Open in September.</p>.<p>"I just need to recover all these positive feelings and all this confidence and all this strong mentality that I need to be at the level that I want to be.</p>.<p>"And I don't know if I am going to reach that level again. But what I don't have any doubt, that I going to die for it."</p>.<p>Nadal -- who has nevertheless won the Australian Open and French Open this year -- praised 19-year-old Alcaraz, who is not able to play in Turin due to an abdominal injury.</p>.<p>"Just well done for Carlos in this case," said Nadal.</p>.<p>"Happy for him. Big achievement for him. Well done. Great news for our sport in Spain. He deserved it after a great season."</p>.<p>Nadal's rustiness showed against Auger-Aliassime, who is in the form of his life having won three titles in October.</p>.<p>"It is great to win against him, and stay alive in the tournament!" said Auger-Aliassime.</p>.<p>"I have played some great tennis in the past month and to then beat a player of his stature is very special."</p>.<p>Nadal spurned all four of his break points in the first set, though his 22-year-old Canadian opponent produced two superb forehands to stave off a break at 3-3.</p>.<p>Auger-Aliassime by contrast made no mistake breaking the Spaniard with the only one he was offered.</p>.<p>The Canadian was equally clinical when he was presented with two set points converting the first of them.</p>.<p>Nadal fared little better in the second set, as the lack of competitive matches showed - he had taken a break to spend time with his son, who was born in October.</p>.<p>Auger-Aliassime took the match by the scruff of the neck as he broke Nadal at 1-1, the Spaniard sending a loose volley long.</p>.<p>Auger-Aliassime was hitting the ball with sublime accuracy and could afford a rueful smile when one did not go as smoothly, flying upwards into the roof of the indoor arena.</p>.<p>Nadal had few chances to put Auger-Aliassime under pressure with the Canadian playing so well but he had a break point -- the first of the second set for him -- on his rival's serve at 2-3.</p>.<p>However, once again he was unable to seize it and Auger-Aliassime went on to hold his serve and was never troubled from that point on, eventually closing out the match on the first of two match points.</p>
<p>Rafael Nadal says he is "going to die" trying to return to the level of tennis that saw him capture a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles after his hopes of a first ever ATP Finals title and becoming year end world number one were all but extinguished on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The 36-year-old Spaniard was speaking after a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in Turin.</p>.<p>Nadal has lost both his matches in Turin -- he fell to Taylor Fritz on Sunday -- and will need to win his last Green Group match against Casper Ruud to keep alive his chances.</p>.<p>Even then it might be out of his hands.</p>.<p>Ruud -- who beat Auger-Aliassime in their opening clash -- faces Taylor Fritz later on Tuesday and according to the ATP needs just to win a set in that match to eliminate Nadal.</p>.<p>That would confirm Nadal's teenage compatriot, US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, as year-ending world number one.</p>.<p>"I mean, I don't think I forget how to play tennis, how to be strong enough mentally," said Nadal, who was playing in just his third singles match since the US Open in September.</p>.<p>"I just need to recover all these positive feelings and all this confidence and all this strong mentality that I need to be at the level that I want to be.</p>.<p>"And I don't know if I am going to reach that level again. But what I don't have any doubt, that I going to die for it."</p>.<p>Nadal -- who has nevertheless won the Australian Open and French Open this year -- praised 19-year-old Alcaraz, who is not able to play in Turin due to an abdominal injury.</p>.<p>"Just well done for Carlos in this case," said Nadal.</p>.<p>"Happy for him. Big achievement for him. Well done. Great news for our sport in Spain. He deserved it after a great season."</p>.<p>Nadal's rustiness showed against Auger-Aliassime, who is in the form of his life having won three titles in October.</p>.<p>"It is great to win against him, and stay alive in the tournament!" said Auger-Aliassime.</p>.<p>"I have played some great tennis in the past month and to then beat a player of his stature is very special."</p>.<p>Nadal spurned all four of his break points in the first set, though his 22-year-old Canadian opponent produced two superb forehands to stave off a break at 3-3.</p>.<p>Auger-Aliassime by contrast made no mistake breaking the Spaniard with the only one he was offered.</p>.<p>The Canadian was equally clinical when he was presented with two set points converting the first of them.</p>.<p>Nadal fared little better in the second set, as the lack of competitive matches showed - he had taken a break to spend time with his son, who was born in October.</p>.<p>Auger-Aliassime took the match by the scruff of the neck as he broke Nadal at 1-1, the Spaniard sending a loose volley long.</p>.<p>Auger-Aliassime was hitting the ball with sublime accuracy and could afford a rueful smile when one did not go as smoothly, flying upwards into the roof of the indoor arena.</p>.<p>Nadal had few chances to put Auger-Aliassime under pressure with the Canadian playing so well but he had a break point -- the first of the second set for him -- on his rival's serve at 2-3.</p>.<p>However, once again he was unable to seize it and Auger-Aliassime went on to hold his serve and was never troubled from that point on, eventually closing out the match on the first of two match points.</p>