Nadal on battle for full fitness: ‘Things can change quickly’

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Rafael Nadal is taking his ATP Tour comeback one step at a time.

The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings made his first tour-level appearances since January last week in Barcelona. Now in the Spanish capital for the Mutua Madrid Open, the 37-year-old is taking the positives from his ability to play matches in what he has hinted will be the final season of his career, even if he is not at 100 per cent fitness.

“The goal is to be on court and enjoy as long as possible,” said Nadal of his expectations for Madrid in his pre-tournament press conference. “Try to finish the tournament alive in terms of body issues and enjoy the fact that I will be able to compete one more time on the professional tour and here at home in Madrid. A place that has given me everything in terms of support.

“So let's see. I mean, in this sport, I’ve said it plenty of times, but it's true. Things can change very quickly. If I am not there to try that change, for sure a change will not happen. I am here, giving myself a chance. If at some moment my situation improves so I am able to find better feelings in my body, I need to be ready. I will not be ready if I am at home.”

This picture looks familiar 👀

Do you know the reference? @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/66DN6aPmbc

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 24, 2024

Nadal is a record five-time champion in Madrid, where he holds a 56-14 record. His opening-round opponent at the ATP Masters 1000 event will be 16-year-old Darwin Blanch, and Nadal is happy to be able to step out in front of his home fans at least one more time at the Caja Magica.

“I can say a feeling that is very important for me too, emotionally, is that I'm going to be on court tomorrow,” said the 92-time tour-level titlist. “A few weeks ago, I didn't know if I would be able to play again on the professional tour, so today I am playing. It's not perfect, of course, but at least I am playing, and I can enjoy again.

“Especially in a few tournaments that are so emotional for me. I'm able to enjoy that I can say probably goodbye on court.”

Nadal also shared his thoughts on his near-term playing future. His decision to play September’s Laver Cup was announced earlier this week, dispelling talk in some circles that he may retire at Roland Garros. New today were Nadal’s comments that he would only play Roland Garros if he felt his body would withstand the rigours of five-set tennis… and that competing at the Paris Olympics was on his mind.

"I’ll be doing everything I think I have to do to try and play [Roland Garros] in Paris,” Nadal said. “If I can, I can. If I can’t, then so be it. I’m not going to play in Paris in my current condition. If I went to Paris today, I wouldn’t step out on court. That’s the reality. I’ll play in Paris if I feel I have the ability to compete well. Otherwise, I can’t see the point… Roland Garros isn’t my entire world, even though it’s been the most important tournament of my career.

“I don’t want to say that if I don’t play at Roland Garros, everything ends there. The Olympics are coming up, with different formats you can play in and I might be interested. I’m not going to do anything more than what I feel capable of doing”.

Despite his struggles with injury across the past two years, Nadal’s ballstriking abilities remain. The Spaniard hit the ball fiercely throughout a practice session in front of hundreds of fans on Wednesday morning, on an adjacent court to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

“I think touching the ball, I am not playing bad,” said Nadal. “It's about more body limitations. I went through a lot of things in the past year and a half, two years. My body feelings are not enough good to feel myself playing with enough freedom.

“That doesn’t allow me to compete the way that I like to compete, the way I would like to compete. That's it. That's it. I can't say [differently] because I would be lying.”