“If it were Roland-Garros, I would not play tomorrow (Thursday),” added the Mallorcan with 22 Grand Slam titles on the eve of his entry into contention 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 at Roland-Garros this summer, Editor's note), there are different formats to play in,” he said.
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 has been good in some aspects, not so good in others. I don't think I'm ready to play 100% but I'm ready to go on court tomorrow (Thursday),” he said. explain. “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 doesn't It’s not, it’s not,” Nadal said again.
The Roland-Garros tournament, the second round of the Grand Slam, is scheduled between May 26 and June 9.
