(CNN) — Rafael Nadal said he tries to enjoy every moment he spends on a tennis court while fighting injuries.
Speaking to reporters before the Madrid Open, Nadal, who has played only five matches this year, cast doubt on his participation in next month’s French Open, a tournament he has won a record 14 times.
“I will fight and do the things that I think I have to do to be able to play in Paris and if I can play, fine, and if I can’t, I can’t,” he said. “As I am today, I wouldn’t play in Paris. “If Paris were tomorrow, I wouldn’t go to the field, that’s the reality.”
The 37-year-old, however, is determined to play in what he hopes will be his last Madrid Open. On Thursday he faced American Darwin Blanch, a player 21 years his junior, and defeated him 6-1, 6-0.
“I don’t think I’m ready to play at 100%,” Nadal said before the match. “I think I’m ready to go out and play tomorrow and for me that’s important, being able to play for the last time here in Madrid means a lot to me.”
“At least I will be able to enjoy this court where I have lived beautiful moments once again.”
Nadal played the Barcelona Open earlier this month, and lost in the second round against Australian Alex de Minaur. Before that, he suffered a third-round exit at the Brisbane International in January, before withdrawing from the Australian Open.
Nadal won five titles at the Madrid Open, the last being in 2017.
It seems unlikely that Nadal will ever be in a position to add another title to his 22 Grand Slam titles, but if injury problems are left aside, the tennis player acknowledged on Wednesday that he is satisfied with the current level of his game.
“I’m not playing badly, it’s more about physical limitations,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot over the last year and a half, two years, so the body sensations are not good enough to feel liberated in terms of injuries.
“Tomorrow I will be on the court,” he added. “A few weeks ago, I didn’t know if I would be able to play again. [en la] professional tour (…) Yes, it is not perfect, of course it is not perfect, but at least I am playing and I can enjoy myself again, especially in some tournaments that are so emotional for me,” Nadal said.
“I can enjoy the fact that I can probably say goodbye on the court.”
2024-04-25 21:45:00
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