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 No.1 were extinguished on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Spaniard fell 3-6, 4-6 to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in Turin to follow up on a defeat by Taylor Fritz on Sunday. To stay alive in the finals, Nadal needed Fritz to beat Casper Ruud in straight sets on Tuesday.