Rafael Nadal skipped this year’s Wimbledon to have his one last dance on his favorite surface at the Olympics. He played at this year’s French Open but got defeated in the very first round. After that, he took part in the Swedish Open, and over there he surprisingly managed to reach the finals of the tournament, his first since the 2022 French Open. Everything looked fine until, when the Spaniard claimed, he didn’t feel too comfortable on the court. Now, adding more to the worries of Nadal fans are his bandages on his left hand. What’s wrong with his hand? Is he fully fit to take part in the Paris Olympics?

Shortly after losing the final match against Portugal’s Nuno Borges at the Swedish Open, Rafael Nadal said, “In some way, I felt that I arrived here practicing much better than what I played in the tournament during the whole week. That’s something that I am not satisfied with.” He was not at all happy with his level in that tournament. It’s quite amazing to see the hunger of a 38-year-old tennis star who has won almost everything in his career, but it’s quite concerning when he says, “I was not able to feel myself comfortable enough during the whole week.”

Recently he was heard saying, “I’m not okay” to Anabel Medina while showing her the fingers of his left hand. He was also seen recently asking his doctor, “Is there any glue left?” while adjusting the bandages on his fingers. Some other concerning phrases that came to the ears of those around were, “I have to rest” or “I haven’t recovered.” These have now switched on a new concern among the tennis fans. Seeing Rafael Nadal frequently stopping his training to adjust the bandages made the doctor joke about the “glue that expired in 1972.”

Is the mood really light in the camp or is there any darkness behind these light moments? When one of the journalists of CLAY asked David Ferrer about Nadal’s hand, he replied, “Nothing, nothing, it’s better than ever!” He further went on to clarify, “Expired tape, nothing more.” Rafael Nadal is a two-time gold medalist at the Olympics and this will be his fourth appearance at his mega event. This will probably be his last appearance at the Olympics and he’s desperate to do well for his nation.

“My main goal now is to play the Olympics” – Rafael Nadal

Rafa appeared at the Olympics very the first time in 2004 in Athens as a teenager. After that, he won his first gold medal at the singles event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Then again, eight years later, he won a gold medal in the doubles event partnering Marc Lopez at the 2016 Rio Olympics. How does he look at this year’s major event and what are his chances of achieving something more for his nation?

Here are a few of his previous statements surrounding this mega event in Paris. Nadal has time and again spoken about how desperately he wants to be at the Olympics this year. Once during an interview, he revealed, “My main goal now is to play the Olympics that are going to be here, so I need to prepare myself the proper way: to try to arrive here healthy and well prepared – and then let’s see.” He has also expressed his wish to team up with Carlos Alcaraz to play doubles and do well for the national team. Now, if Nadal can repeat the heroics of the 2016 Olympics with the 21-year-old or not, time will tell, but it’s more like enjoying the moments till it last for now!