Rafael Nadal will go out to play today at the Madrid Open despite the fact that he is not in optimal physical condition and was not very optimistic regarding being able to be fit for the French Open at the end of this month.
The Spanish star pointed out that he would not take to the court in Paris (the traditional Caja Mágica) if he felt the same way he faced his debut in Madrid. But Rafa has different feelings for this tournament.
“The feelings of the week have not been perfect. With my mentality, perhaps I wouldn’t go out to play, but it’s Madrid and many things are mixed on an emotional level and I go out to play for personal reasons,” Nadal said at a press conference.
“I’m not giving up anything in the coming weeks, but this is not a straight-line process,” he added. “I don’t know what will happen in the next three weeks, I want to do things to try to play Roland Garros and if it can, it can, and if not, no.”
At 37 years of age, Nadal has indicated that this might be his last season on the tour and aims to reach the best possible level once once more at Roland Garros, the clay Grand Slam where he holds the record of 14 consecrations. .
The champion of 22 Grand Slam tournaments is also the owner of the record for titles in Madrid, with five. His last one in the Spanish capital dates back to 2017. He will debut today once morest Darwin Blanch, a 16-year-old American.
“If I might play with little limitation, even if I lost it would be good,” Nadal said. “The week hasn’t been perfect, maybe I wouldn’t go out to play tomorrow but it’s Madrid. This does not mean that I will give up anything in the coming weeks, I don’t know what can happen.”
Nadal, who had hip surgery last summer, lost to Alex de Minaur in the second round in Barcelona in what was his first tournament in more than three months.
“I am a person who in the end is competitive and it is difficult to play without being able to give my best,” said Nadal. “Beyond winning, what has made me happy throughout my life is trying my best, whatever the situation, to try to achieve my goals. But the main goal for me has always been to leave the track with the peace of mind of having done everything possible to make things go well.”— AP
Madrid Open Men’s and Women’s Results
The first sowings will take place tomorrow. Yesterday the first round of the tournament was played.
female painting
Argentine María Lourdes Carlé scored her first victory in a WTA 1000 tournament by defeating Emma Raducanu, the US Open champion in 2021, 6-2, 6-2. In addition, former world number one Naomi Osaka achieved her first victory in clay in two years by beating the Belgian Greet Minnen 6-4 and 6-1.
Argentine triumphs
In the men’s draw, Argentines Mariano Navone and Facundo Bagnis each scored victories in straight sets. Navone beat Australian Alexei Popyrin 7-5 and 6-2. Bagnis beat Brandon Nakashima 6-3 and 7-6 (5) to earn his ticket.
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2024-05-02 12:00:39
