"I must do better," says new dad Rafa Nadal

Rafa arrived in Italy having only competed in one singles match since his fourth-round U.S. Open loss two months ago and his lack of recent competition showed as he was unable to keep pace with Fritz as the match wore on.

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Rafa Nadal and Mery Perelló in Turin with their baby boy

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"I need more matches to play at this kind of level, even if I am practising well, much better than how I am competing, without a doubt. That's normal," Nadal told reporters.

"At the end is not the ideal tournament and probably part of the season to come back after a couple of months without being on the tour because you don't have time to get confidence."

Nadal grabbed a 6-5 lead in the opening set when he held to love for a fifth time but then lost the opening three points of the tiebreaker and could not find his way back. Rafa faces Felix Auger Aliassime in an all important game tomorrow which he must win to continue at the finals.