The Spanish Rafael Nadal assured that he faces his participation in Roland Garros with the necessary motivation, along with highlighting that “although there are options” he cannot “ensure that it will be the last.”
The fourteen-time winner of the tournament commented that For the first time he has been able to train without feeling discomfort. This makes him hope to be competitive starting next Monday, when in the first round he crossed his racket with that of the German Alexander Zverev, world number 4either.
But he acknowledged that he has only been in that good condition for a short time, which deprives him of references to know if it will be enough to compete with the recent winner of Rome.
“I have a small hope of playing well”said Rafa, who attributed it to physical work, which has also influenced his motivation.
“How do I get there? I don’t know. A week and a half ago I made a mess in Rome. The rest is speculation. Internally I feel better, in every way, physically too, but one of the worst draws possible”he acknowledged.
“This is the first week that I feel free to be able to play thinking about the ball and little else (…) I can play against anyone and I don’t feel worse than the others, that gives me hope,” added the Spaniard, who has trained these days with Daniil Medvedev, Hoger Rune, Stan Wawrinka, Sebastian Korda and Mariano Navone.
However, he warned that “that is in training,” before pointing out that he has not faced a rival of Zverev’s stature in competition for a long time.
His plan, he said, was to have the current level a month and a half ago, to face the clay court tour from Monte Carlo in better conditions. However, his physical condition did not allow it, which made him arrive without filming.
Nadal acknowledged that these last two years have not been easy, that the recovery has been hard and that, at times, it affected his morale, which made him think that he would not be able to return to the courts.
But things have changed now, physical problems no longer limit him and, although he has physical doubts, he feels capable of reaching a high level.
A positive perspective that also leads him not to close the door on continuing on the circuit for another year and that this will not be his last Roland Garros.
Nadal acknowledged in the preview of his debut at Roland Garros that he does not want “a tribute on the court. If I lose, it will be natural with the public. But I don’t want to close the door for the future, it’s not necessary. If I don’t come back to play, I’ll come back here next year for whatever needs to be done.”he pointed.
“I enjoy tennis, I come with my family, I make them enjoy it. I have not been able to study in depth whether I will be able to play in good health conditions. Give me a little time, maybe in a month and a half I will say that I can’t continue, now I can’t say for sure, but there are options,” she said.
“I don’t want to be left with the feeling of trying for only a week, I don’t want to be left with doubt,” he added.
