Nadal growing in positivity: “I’m excited about the way I can be able to play”

The Spaniard goes into the Italian Open more optimistic about his prospects as he continues to build after injury

Inside/Panoramic

May 8, 2024

Rafael Nadal says he is going into the Italian Open feeling good about his tennis and optimistic that he will be able to continue what he calls an upward curve in his recovery after injury.

The curve is not without its ups and downs; Nadal told reporters in Rome on Wednesday that there are still difficult days, but the general trajectory is in the right direction as he looks to take the next step following his return in Barcelona and the clear improvements he made in reaching the fourth round in Madrid.

“My third week almost in a row on the tour, third tournament almost in a row,” Nadal said. “That didn’t happen since super long time ago. That’s good news. Let’s see. I need to keep going. I need to keep exploring how I will be able to manage to play every day. But yeah, I am happy the way that I feel today.”

Rafael Nadal était à l’entraînement avec Francisco Cerundolo à Rome. 🔥🇮🇹pic.twitter.com/767pVbd2G0
— Univers Tennis 🎾 (@UniversTennis) May 7, 2024

Nadal on his improvement: “The line is going up”

Nadal arrived in the Italian capital on Saturday, delighted to be back at a venue that means so much to him, having won the title 10 times and won some of the most iconic clay-court battles in the past 25 years. His preparation has been good, but he’s well aware his progress as he continues to build after a long-term hip injury and a recent abdominal issue is unlikely to be smooth.

“Well, it’s something that is not every day the same,” he said. “Is not a line like this (steadily up), it’s a little bit like this (up and down). Even after Barcelona, I had some tough moments in Madrid. Even here the first day.

“But in a general perspective, the line is going up, without a doubt. I mean, happy to be today where I am because one month ago for me was almost impossible to think that I will be able to play in Barcelona, then in Madrid, and now being here in Rome.”

Balancing the body and mind

Nadal said he was still treading a fine line between wanting to compete as much as possible during matches while at the same time, managing his body., not stretching it further than he knows it can handle.

“Things are happening,” he said. “Is true that I was able to accept the challenge, accept that some moments I was not able to push the way that I wanted to push. Doing the things the proper way and trying to avoid a lot of risks in terms of pushing a lot on the matches, I was able to keep moving. Madrid was a good test for me playing I think two days in a row, one match over three hours.

“My feelings are better always. In terms of tennis, too. Why not? I am here to try my best. Tomorrow is a start (he plays Zizou Bergs in round one). All the matches are tough for me today and difficult and more unpredictable than what the matches used to be for me, especially on clay.

“I accept that role. I accept that challenge. I am excited about the way that I can be able to play if I keep working the proper way and my body allow me.”

Roland-Garros likely but still not a certainty

All the signs are that, providing there are no major setbacks, Nadal will be back at Roland-Garros, the venue where he has won the title a record 14 times. Getting there, after all he’s been through is one thing but he wants to be competitive. That will depend how he performs in Rome and how he feels in the time between the start of the second Grand Slam event of the year, on May 26.

The emotions were high in Madrid, though Nadal kept his in tack, just about, explaining that he’s not done yet, that he didn’t want to let himself go completely because there’s work still to do. Rome will be another test of his emotions and Roland-Garros is likely to be the toughest test yet. For his part, Nadal says he doesn’t know how he’ll react.

“I can’t have a clear answer,” he said. “First of all, I want to play Rome. That’s the tournament that I am today. I don’t think after that. If after that I feel ready to play Roland Garros, I cannot predict what kind of emotions I going to have there. I just want to enjoy every day. I am enjoying playing tennis, by the way. Always depending on my body how far I can keep going in terms of timings, no?”

And Nadal said the drive and the will to compete is still there, even after all his injury setbacks and with his 38th birthday to come next month.

“I am happy doing what I’m doing,” he said. “When I’m talking about retirement, is not because I’m not happy anymore playing tennis or I’m not feeling myself competitive enough. That’s not the case. It’s about the body was not able to play weeks in a row, was not able to allow me practice and enjoy the practices in a daily basis.

“Then arrive a moment that don’t make sense. If you’re not able to do the things the proper way in your daily basis, you are not able to enjoy because of the pain and the injuries in your daily basis, it’s almost impossible to have success or to keep fighting for the things that really motivate me, no?

“But now is my third week on the tour almost in a row, so… It’s a good moment, even if the results are not what used to be. But I am increasing my feeling, my level. Let’s see. I want to keep going.”