Between keeping his good memories and playing Roland-Garros at all costs, Nadal has chosen

“The most important test since my return.”

At a press conference, all smiles, Rafael Nadal took stock of a match and a day which will prove eternally important, in Madrid, if he becomes truly competitive again over time. For the first time since November 2022, the Spaniard managed to beat a member of the Top 20, Alex de Minaur, on the ATP circuit.

What makes him think that he is getting closer to participating in Roland-Garros in a month? Absolutely nothing. The man with 22 Grand Slam titles remains very cautious. He recalls that his body remains very fragile in his eyes, even if the level of play is improving very clearly.

Read also

Nadal “close to his best level” says De Minaur; “Let’s not get carried away”, the Spaniard says

Tennis Majors

“I think in the last few days my feelings have improved a little, but I’m not sure yet,” he said. “I understand that it is sometimes difficult for people who are not part of my team to assimilate certain things, but for me, Roland-Garros is the most important tournament of my career and all the things that I have experienced there, that I enjoyed there, will remain in my heart forever.”

“So it’s not about losing or winning. It’s about entering the court with the feeling that I can fight and that I can be competitive, in the best of five sets, with all the demands that that represents. Even if it means entering the court, you might as well dream of what can happen, right? So if I’m not able to go on court and dream, I prefer to stay with all the extraordinary memories I have there.”

On Saturday, Nadal elaborated on the idea that he had expressed on Thursday, saying that he did not want to go to Paris “at all costs.”

Nadal dreams of a shot at a 15th title in Paris

It is therefore clear that Rafael Nadal does not want to participate in Roland-Garros to say goodbye to the world of tennis on his beloved terre battue, in a place where he built his legacy. The 37-year-old is still an incredible competitor, who harbours in the back of his mind the crazy dream of lifting a 15th Mousquetaires Cup.

After losing to Alex de Minaur last week in Barcelona, Rafael Nadal took his revenge against the Australian this Saturday, playing much better tennis, and at a higher intensity, for a little over two hours. If his body manages to keep meeting the challenge from Madrid to Rome, then the dream will become a reality: not necessarily to win Roland-Garros, but to compete with a chance.

Speaking in Spanish during his press conference, the Mallorcan confirmed that although he was living day to day, he had great hope of being able to play Roland-Garros one last time with the possibility of fighting for victory. This is why he continues: “If I didn’t have high hopes for the future, I wouldn’t be here.”

Next test? Argentina’s Cachin

“If I enter a tournament like Roland-Garros with the hope, with the real hope that my body will withstand the demand that I will have to be competitive, I will be there. It’s not about playing better or worse. It’s about going on court with real hope. Then anything can happen.

“But before the tournament, I have the hope of being able to play and to be able to play for a few days in a row defending my chances on the type of rally that I need to progress. If I have this hope, I will be on the court. If I know before the tournament that my body won’t hold up for the entire tournament, I won’t be on the court. This is how I see things. So the next two weeks are very important to see if this possibility is real or not.”

A new response is expected on Monday against the Argentinian Pedro Cachin. One certainty: whatever the outcome of the meeting, Nadal will have to answer this question. “Are you going to play Roland-Garros?”

You might also like this

Nadal turns back the clock – and turns up the hope – with win over De Minaur in Madrid

tennis majors

“I learnt nothing about my physical state today” – Nadal still undecided on Roland-Garros

tennis majors