Nadal positive after Madrid but still unclear on Roland-Garros: “I need a clear vision of what can happen. I don’t have it yet”

The 37-year-old leaves Madrid with increasing confidence in his body and will goals still to achieve

Zuma / Panoramic

May 1, 2024

After an emotional week in which he reminded everyone why he has been such a legend of the sport across the last 20 years, Rafael Nadal offered a positive assessment of his efforts and said he hopes to be in Rome next week, and to again be competitive.

Three weeks after – as he revealed this week – he was losing to young kids in his academy – Nadal took a significant step forward in his recovery from injury as he won three matches, including one against world No 11 Alex de Minaur, before bowing out 7-5, 6-4 to the hard-hitting Czech Jiri Lehecka in another highly-competitive contest. in the fourth round.

“Have been a positive week in all ways,” said Nadal, who addressed the crowd at the Caja Magica after a video montage of his triumphs in the Spanish capital was played on the screens in the stadium.

“It’s true, in terms of body feelings, I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches, and the body, some muscles are tired now. I felt that in the match. But (the body) holded well. So have been a very positive match, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with very positive energy in all ways.”

Nadal: “Rome is another very special tournament”

After a year out following hip surgery, and then three months out as he battled an abdominal issue, Nadal improved markedly from Barcelona to Madrid. At 37, with his 38th birthday to come next month, his time is coming toward an end, and he has already said this is likely to be last year. But there is work to be done, yet. His next stop, he hopes, will be the Rome Masters, with the first round beginning on May 10.

Nadal will take some time to recover and build on the work he did in Madrid, but it’s clear that if he goes to Rome, he will be doing so to try to compete hard at an event he has won 10 times.

“I gonna try to play in Rome,” he said. “That’s another very special tournament in my career, no? I think, I don’t know, I won 10? Yeah, 10. So, yeah, a lot of emotions there too.

“I dreamed to play all these tournaments that I had success one more time, no? I missed Monte-Carlo unfortunately, that is one of the most special for me, but Rome is one of these ones that I enjoyed a lot playing there.

“So I want to go there. I gonna try. And I want to play well there. I want to play well. I want to be competitive. I want to give myself a chance to play good tennis, and I gonna keep working hard to try to make that happen.”

participation at ROLand-garros still doubtful

Nadal has repeatedly said that he will only play at Roland-Garros later this month if he feels he can be competitive and achieve the goals he still has. Playing best-of-five-set tennis will be another stretch, after so long away and with his body still not quite allowing him to play at 100 percent on every point, he said he will only know for sure after he has played Rome.

“I’ll talk after Rome,” he told Spanish reporters. “I understand your agenda. but I need a clear vision of what could happen. I still don’t have it and that’s how things are. I hope I can compete in Rome and, if there’s no problem, continue to evolve.”

Either way, though, Nadal said he is determined to continue, with the Olympics also on his agenda, all being well.

“Today is an emotional day, of course,” he said. “Today is unforgettable day in terms of saying, goodbye Madrid. That is one of the places or even probably the place that I received more love and support during all these years.

“But my career keeps going, and I have my personal goals that I have got in the next couple of weeks, and I want to explore if I have any chance to achieve that.”