“If nothing happens, I hope to be there” – After rough ride in Paris, Nadal wants to play Turin

It was not the happiest of returns to Paris on Wednesday. Rafael Nadal, 14 times a champion in another “arrondissement”, remains without title across the city of lights at the Paris Masters in Bercy, after falling in three sets to Tommy Paul, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1.

It was disappointing to be sure, to come up empty in his first singles match since September 5th at the US Open (also a loss, to Frances Tiafoe, in the round of 16), but it did not leave Nadal without hope.

He plans to rock up at the Nitto ATP Finals, which begin on November 13 in Turin, to take his shot against the best players on tour.

Why? Because he needs the work, and wants to stay in the flow before he calls it a season – and a remarkably successful one at that.

“If nothing happens”

There seems to be a caveat, however. Nadal’s use of the phrase “if nothing happens” does make it sound that he is a bit worried about not being 100 percent fit. At this point it is hard to tell exactly what he means by the phrase, but it does sound like he is committed to playing.

“If nothing happens, I hope to be there,” Nadal told reporters on Wednesday evening in Paris. “No, I’m excited about playing, even if haven’t been the perfect couple of months for me, of course.”

Nadal says he’ll take low expectations at the event, which he has never won. He is 20-16 lifetime at the ATP Finals, in ten career appearances.

“Nothing to lose,” he said. “After a good year, going there, just trying my best. At the end I need days on the tour, you know. It’s true that for the last five months I didn’t spend enough days on the tour. I don’t even say competing on a tennis court. I say on the tour. Practicing with the guys. That’s what I need. I gonna try.

“If I am feeling okay, to be there a little bit earlier than usual and have some practices.”

Nadal – You never know when the last ATP Finals will come

Nadal says he wants to be there, to feel the energy of one of the most important events in men’s tennis, and try to find the level that allowed him to add two major titles to his all-time leading count in 2022.

“Just give myself a chance to enjoy another World Tour Finals, no?” he said. “You never know when it is gonna be the last, especially at my age. So I gonna give my best to enjoy this one, and then next years of course I gonna fight to be back there.

“I need to put everything in perspective, and just I gonna keep trying my best, and I need to be healthy enough to spend days on the tour. That’s it.”

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