Rafael Nadal admitted he didn’t play a great match despite a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win against qualifier Zizou Bergs on Thursday. The Spaniard said he found a way to win but he has been practicing well than what he played against the Belgian.

After losing the opening set against the 24-year-old, Nadal bounced back strongly in the second set, breaking the opponent’s serve in the second game.

Nadal hasn’t played consistently on the tour and feels he will get better with more game time in the middle.

The highlight of the game came in the third set when Nadal won the point despite falling at the baseline but quickly recovered to get back into the contest.

“It was not my best match. I was practising better than how I played today without a doubt but I found a way to win,” Nadal said on his on-court interview. “That is so important at the beginning of the tournament. My game is more unpredictable than before. I didn’t play much tennis for the past two years, so it is up and down. I think I can do much better than I did today and hope I can do it in the next round.”

Nadal has won the Italian Open on 10 occasions and said it is always emotional for him to play at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

“It is always emotional to play here,” Nadal said. “One of the most important events in my tennis career. The crowd has always been amazing with me, supporting me since the beginning of my tennis career, so super excited to play one more time here.”

Nadal will next take on World No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the Italian Open.