The fans experienced a surge in emotions and excitement as Rafael Nadal confirmed to be back in the game. While everyone expected a blast from the King of Clay who once used to dominate the courts, his run for the Barcelona Open title didn’t last long enough. Although he is ready to give it one more chance in Madrid, his recent words made it seem like the upcoming French Open might be in danger.
Recently, Rafael Nadal appeared in an interview in which he talked about how feels to be back on the scene. Besides mentioning the fact that his comeback is based on his excitement, he appeared to lack confidence in his current form. “If I can play, I play. If I can’t play, I can’t. It won’t be the end of the world or the end of my career,” he said, raising concerns over his future participation.
Specifically mentioning the upcoming Grand Slam event in Paris, the tennis clarified that he would only step in if he felt fine. “If I arrive Paris the way I feel today, I will not play. I will play Roland Garros if I feel competitive,” he said, making his most-awaited presence at the Roland Garros seem doubtful.
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Nadal with some strong words about Roland Garros.
“If I arrive Paris the way I feel today, I will not play. I will play Roland Garros if I feel competitive. If I can play, I play. If I can’t play, I can’t. It won’t be the end of the world or the end of my career. I still got…
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 24, 2024
However, besides being dicey about his plans for the grand slam event that he has won for a record 14 times, Nadal mentioned that he has goals that extend far beyond the major title. “I still got goals after Roland Garros, like the Olympics,” he said, setting new targets for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
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As the tennis legend looks forward to testing his levels once again at the Madrid Open, it still remains to be seen if he will be able to take down the challenges waiting for him ahead of the event.
Rafael Nadal mentions how age acts as a barrier on his run
This wasn’t the first time when Rafael Nadal’s words seemed to lack confidence. Back when the Spaniard talked about his aim to compete at the Paris Olympics, he mentioned how age can act as a real hurdle to be on the top of performance levels.
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“When you are at an advanced age, it makes things even tougher. I’m going through tough moments, but at the same time when I am able to be on the tour for a few days and practice with the guys and then be able to compete a little bit, it means a lot to me,” he said, reflecting on the difficulties that he is facing these days.
As the King of Clay is yet to decide his fate in the upcoming tours, it still remains to be seen if his body allows him to continue.