Rafael Nadal confirmed this Monday that he would play the Barcelona tournament (April 13-21). “Tomorrow (Tuesday), I will be there,” he declared at a press conference. The Spaniard, present in training this Monday, will take part in his first match, Tuesday, since that in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane tournament (5-7, 7-6 [6], 6-3 against Jordan Thompson in January). He will face the Italian Flavio Cobolli (62nd) in the first round.
Forfeiting the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo due to serving difficulties, Nadal remained evasive about his recent health problems: “I don’t want to say that I have a problem here or a problem there. The worst thing that could happen is that I won’t be able to play anymore. I’m coming back from two difficult years, my body doesn’t let me follow the schedule. On a personal level, being in Barcelona is a gift. »
Nadal knows Catalan clay well since he is the record holder for victories in Barcelona with 12 titles. Currently ranked 644th in the world, the 37-year-old Majorcan hopes to return to his best level at Roland-Garros (May 20 to June 9), which he has won 14 times. But he nevertheless remained cautious about a return for the Parisian Grand Slam: “It’s difficult for me to plan, I take it day by day. There are a lot of bad days physically and mentally. The good days help compensate and I still have fun when I play tennis, which is why I keep hoping to continue playing. »
