Rafael Nadal will take part in the Madrid Open despite not being fully fit and didn’t seem too optimistic about his chances of taking part in the French Open later this month .
Nadal indicated on Wednesday that he would skip the Paris tournament if he is in the same physical condition as at the moment, at the dawn of the Madrid tournament.
“I don’t have very good feelings this week. If I wasn’t already in Madrid, I would probably be resting. But my emotions come into play, Nadal explained. I don’t know what will happen to me in the next three weeks. I will continue to fight and do the things that are necessary for me to be able to play in Paris. And if it’s possible, then it will be possible. If not, well no. I will not play in Paris if I am in the same condition as currently. If we were in Paris, then I wouldn’t play. »
The 37-year-old veteran has already said this will likely be his last season on tour, and he still hopes to compete at Roland Garros one last time — at the same venue where he won 14 of his Grand Slam titles. .
“Rafa”, who has 22 major career titles, has triumphed five times in Madrid, and his last title in the Spanish capital was acquired in 2017. He is scheduled to begin his tournament on Thursday, against American teenager Darwin Blanch.
“I hope I will be able to play without restrictions,” Nadal said. Then we’ll see where it takes us. If I play without restrictions, even if I lose, then it will be positive. »
Nadal, who had hip surgery last summer, lost to Australian Alex de Minaur in the second round of the Barcelona Open. This was his first competitive tournament in over three months.
“The goal is to play. To enjoy it as long as possible, he said. That’s it [l’objectif]. I’m trying to finish a tournament alive, injury-free, and savor the fact that I’m still able to compete here at home in Madrid, a place that has given me everything in terms of support. »
He added that he wants to give himself “time”, and hopes that he will soon be able to regain “good feelings”.
” I keep hope. I simply accept the situation I find myself in now, he summarized. I don’t play that bad. It’s just that my body has restrictions. »
He mentioned that “my feelings are not good enough for me to play freely without restrictions. As a result, I cannot play at the level I would like to achieve.”