“I’m worried about Nadal’s situation”

Feliciano Lopez he is saying goodbye to tennis. The Spaniard announced that 2023 will be his last year as a professional tennis player. He will play for the last time in el ATP 500 de Barcelona (he will do it for the twenty-second time, an absolute record in the competition) and he will debut against David Goffin. Prior to his debut, he spoke at a press conference and left no subject untouched.

López spoke about how he sees Rafael Nadal: “I care more as a friend. At the tennis level, obviously I am concerned that I can play again and that I can arrive at Roland Garros prepared, which is the main objective. But it worries me more on a personal level, that a player who has been triumphing all his life is now going through this, so I hope he recovers soon, if it can be in Madrid, great. The people are waiting for him, they really want to see him play”.

“It hurts me that he is going through this, just like it happened to Federerwho had to retire without being able to play, playing a doubles match without being able to move well, although it was quite emotional, but I don’t think it was what he had dreamed of after all he has achieved. I have hope that the injury is not so serious and in a week or two I will have it back”, commented the experienced player.

This year Rafael Nadal only played in the United Cup and the Australian Open (1-3 record). An injury to the psoas in his left leg has kept him away from the courts ever since. He has already announced his withdrawal from the ATP 500 in Barcelona and it is unknown if he will be able to play in Madrid.

The 31-year-old player, champion of seven ATP singles titles, gave his opinion on the future of Spanish tennis: “After having Rafa, surely the best player in history, that the figure of Carlos Alcaraz has emerged is a miracle. Spanish sport couldn’t be more grateful, but behind Carlos there are other young players who also play well, like Davidovich. Also Landaluce, although he is still very young. I don’t see the future of Spanish tennis as bad, although obviously I don’t see another generation like the one we’ve had now. I do not believe that the successes obtained in the last 15 years can be reaped. It is not to detract from anyone, it is to be realistic ”.

“I see Alcaraz very well. The proof of how good he is and the security he transmits is the fact of having won that first Grand Slam and having placed himself as No. 1 in the world, that pressure surely would not have been withstood by another. We are talking about winning a Grand Slam and being No. 1 in the world at 19 years old, I don’t know how many players in history can boast of something like that. This shows the type of player he is, he comes from a period of inactivity and comes back winning, that is further proof of his level. Here in Barcelona, ​​for me, he is the great favourite”.

Finally, he referred to his last time in the Count of Godó: “It is a joy to close my career playing a tournament like this, a tournament that has always been very special for me. I’m a little nervous because I want to do well. All the games that I play this season are a gift, I know that they will be the last of my career, that I will never be able to experience these kinds of emotions again, so I am looking forward to them with great enthusiasm. It will be a difficult game against a player who may not be going through his best moment, but here everyone plays well, any rival is difficult ”.