Nadal unsure about French Open participation
MADRID: Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has expressed uncertainty about his participation in the upcoming French Open, emphasising that he would only compete if he felt capable of performing well.
The Spaniard admitted that his current condition would prevent him from participating if the tournament were today, stating, “I will not play in Paris if I am the way I am now. If Paris were today, I wouldn’t take to the court.” Despite his desire to compete at Roland Garros, Nadal’s return to tennis has been challenging due to injuries, as he has competed in just five matches so far this season.
Reflecting on his recent struggles before his opening game at the Madrid Open, Nadal remarked, “I don’t think I’m ready to play at my 100 percent, but I’m prepared to go out and play.”
Nadal acknowledged the importance of participating in Madrid, saying, “It’s important for me to play one last time here in Madrid, for me it means a lot.” However, he admitted that his farewell tour hasn’t been as enjoyable as he had hoped, given his physical limitations.
“A few weeks ago, I didn’t know if I will be able to play again on the professional tour, so today I am playing,” he added.
16-year-old American Darwin Blanch will be Nadal’s opponent in his Madrid opener. Blanch, ranked at 1,028 in the world, expressed his eagerness to compete against Nadal, saying, “I’m really excited, obviously a little bit nervous. But I’m just really happy to be playing against Rafa. I’m ready to go out and just enjoy every moment.”
(Source: AFP)
