Rafael Nadal started the Mutua Madrid Open in 512th place in the ranking. The 50 points added for entering the third round of the tournament have allowed him to climb to the 392. However, the Balearic is still far from the ‘top32’, which guarantees being seeded in the ‘Grand Slam’ and the Masters 1000.
Nadal is greatly penalized by his current classification and not only because in the first rounds he can run into any of the ‘top 10’. In Madrid, for example, exposed to playing seven games in just 11 dayswith the physical demand that this entails for someone who 17 days ago had to let himself go in Barcelona against Alex de Miaur because he was not in a position to face a two-hour match.
In a ‘Grand Slam’ you also play seven matches in case you reach the final, but within a period of 14 days and always with rest between days. despite the fact that the matches there are the best of five sets.
To find the last time that the Manacor played seven matches in the same tournament, you have to go back to the Roland Garros title, in 2022. “It meant a lot to be able to play the entire game and the priority here in Madrid continues to be that nothing happens.“I admit. This Sunday he has a training track starting at 1:00 p.m. with Marc López, one of his three coaches..
Rafa Nadal rejuvenates in Madrid against De Miaur and goes to the third round
On Saturday, against De Miaur, he arrived at 2 hours and 2 minutes. “Let’s see how I get up, I’m going to do everything possible to be recovered. You don’t have to get carried away by emotion. The training week wasn’t great but the last three days have been better. Playing helps me read the game better. match, but I still can’t turn the balls from side to side. There are things I can’t do. I need powerful support that I’m missing and I have to be careful,” the tennis player warned, stopping the euphoria of victory against number 11. The lists.
My perspectives change day by day, not a game.
Rafael Nadal
Rafa, regardless of the name and difficulty of his rivals, has a tourmate waiting for him if he wants to continue advancing in the draw. Nadal will have to double two days if he qualifies for the final on Sunday, May 5. This Monday he meets Pedro Cachn in the third round and, in case of victory, would have to jump back into the arena a day later to play with the winner of the duel between Jiri Lehecka and Thiago Monteiro.
Will stop on Wednesday before facing consecutively the quarterfinals (they could be with Daniil Medvedev or Ben Shelton) and the semifinals, Jannik Sinner appears on the horizon. “My perspectives change day by day, not a game. I have to be convinced that my physique responds to me. I have to regain confidence in my body,” says the Spaniard.
How far he goes in Madrid directly affects TMS Roma, his next commitment that begins on May 8, just three days after the Caja Mgica final.. Rafa will premiere at the Foro Itlico on Thursday the 9th.
Alcaraz and Nadal, the same day
Carlos Alcaraz and Nadal, in different parts of the draw, They will coincide in the order of play on Tuesday if both are still in competition. They will meet again on Friday if both are in the men’s semifinals.
