Sunday 10 May 2015 23:11, UK
Rafael Nadal slumped to one of his worst defeats in a clay final but said his week in Madrid had been positive despite losing his Masters crown to Andy Murray in a 6-3 6-2 humbling.
The French Open champion, who will seek a record-extending 10th Roland Garros crown starting at the end of the month, has been struggling for consistency since returning from the injury and illness that dogged his 2014 season.
He suffered a surprise reverse to Italian Fabio Fognini in the third round in Barcelona last month but has looked close to his best on occasion this week, including an imperious victory over Czech Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals.
The 28-year-old now heads to the Rome Masters, where he will try to hone his game and eliminate the errors that scuppered him on Sunday before beginning his French Open bid in Paris.
"The most important thing is the feelings I have and this week I had much better positive feelings than a few weeks ago so that's very important for me," Nadal told a news conference after his mauling to Murray in front of his home support in the Spanish capital.
"There is a chance for me now to have another good week in Rome like I had here.
"Even playing very badly today my feelings on court were not that bad.
"I just have to accept that it was not my day and forget it because it's not time to think about negative things as I have another match in two days.
"One week ago the feeling was much worse. It's the time to be positive and fight for what's going on and what's going on is Rome next week."
The most important thing is the feelings I have and this week I had much better positive feelings than a few weeks ago so that's very important for me.
The Spaniard needed a win to stay fourth in the world rankings and he will drop to seventh when they are updated on Monday, putting him outside the top five for the first time in a decade.
Don't miss all the action from next week's Rome Masters live on Sky Sports 3 from 10am on Monday 11 May.
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