Madrid (AFP) – Rafael Nadal, who is attempting a final return to form at almost 38 years old, will only play in a month at Roland-Garros, where he has been crowned fourteen times, if he “feels sufficiently ready”, warned the Spaniard Wednesday at the Masters 1000 in Madrid.
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“ If it was Roland-Garros, I wouldn’t play tomorrow (Thursday) », added the Majorcan with 22 Grand Slam titles on the eve of his entry into the running in the Spanish capital.
“ If I don’t play Roland-Garros, that doesn’t mean that everything is over. There are Olympic Games (in Paris, also on the clay of Roland-Garros this summer, Editor’s note), there are different formats in which to play “, he mentioned.
Nadal has just timidly returned to competition last week in Barcelona after yet another known setback at the very start of the season, precisely when he was making his return to the circuit in Australia after almost a year of absence and a double operation psoas and hip.
He played two matches on Catalan clay, winning the first against the Italian Flavio Cobolli (62nd in the world, 6-2, 6-3), losing the second against the Australian Alex de Minaur (11th in the world, 7- 5, 6-1).
In the Caja Magica in Madrid, “Rafa” must play his first round on Thursday against the young American guest Darwin Blanch: a 16-year-old opponent, born in September 2007… when he was already a three-time winner of Roland-Garros.
The Spanish champion trained for a little less than 90 minutes on Wednesday at midday under a hot sun, being particularly careful when serving.
“ The week was good in some aspects, less good in others. I don’t think I’m 100% ready to play but I’m ready to go on court tomorrow (Thursday) “, he explained. “ It’s important for me to be able to play for the last time here in Madrid. »
“ I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next three weeks. I’m going to fight and do what I think I have to do to be able to try to play in Paris. If it’s possible, it’s possible. If it’s not, it’s not », Said Nadal again.
The Roland-Garros tournament, the second round of the Grand Slam, is scheduled between May 26 and June 9.