Rafael Nadal played down concerns over his form and ranking, saying he had been written off like he was ranked 200th in the world.

The Spaniard reached the US Open third round on Wednesday courtesy of a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 win over Diego Schwartzman.

But for the first time since 2004, Nadal could finish the year without a grand slam - with Flushing Meadows his final chance.

Ranked eighth in the world, the 14-time grand slam champion said he was made to sound like he had dropped out of the top echelon.

"Seems like I am number 200 in every press conference. I am not so bad. After I arrive here with the victory, I come back to the locker room saying how bad I am. Every day," Nadal said.

"No, no, the fans, it's normal that they are worried because I am worried, too. If I am not playing well, I am the first one who is worried.

"[It] seems like I come here, and seems like if I am saying the truth, if I am being honest, it's bad. So then if I am being honest with you guys and I explain what happened to me, I explain if I playing with nerves or with anxiety like I did in Miami and I say after in the press conference, then I don't know what you want of me.

"But in general, the people say, 'Why you say that? Why you are that honest? You give confidence to the opponent'.

"I believe what happens outside the court, what we are talking about here don't gonna affect zero per cent in the next result.

"The thing is you play well you have chances to win; you play bad, you gonna lose. The sport is simple."

Despite committing 40 unforced errors in his win over Schwartzman, Nadal denied it was an inconsistent performance.

Nadal also found himself 5-3 down in the first-set tie-break, and breaks of serve behind in the second and third sets.

"I didn't have an up-and-down [match] today. The other day [against Borna Coric], yes. Today I didn't have an up-and-down," he said.

"I just played a bad game with the 5-3 in the first set and then I didn't play great, but I didn't play bad. I played a normal match.

"But was not an up-and-down like the other day. I was a single level the whole time.

"For moments better, for moments little bit worse, but that's not up and downs crazy like I had sometimes this year, no? Not a bad place to be."