Rafael Nadal shocked many people with his brutal honesty about his Roland Garros participation, stating that it won’t happen if he doesn’t improve physically compared to now.
The Spaniard made a comeback at the Barcelona Open last week, playing two matches. He won the first match and lost the second match, and is set to play his third match on clay at the Madrid Open this week.
Facing Darwin Blanch at the Madrid Open, the Spaniard’s main focus remains on Roland Garros. In a recent interview, Nadal candidly expressed his doubts about his readiness for the upcoming tournament, much to the surprise of many fans.
While some fans may have preferred a less transparent response from Nadal, his admission that he may not compete in Paris if he feels as he does currently highlights that he is far from his peak form. This honesty is normal, especially considering his recent return to competition.
Competing at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid is part of Nadal’s preparation, but the mere possibility of him sitting out Roland Garros has raised concerns among his supporters.
“If I arrive at Paris feeling the way I do today, I will not play. I will compete at Roland Garros only if I feel competitive. I play when I can, and if I can’t, I don’t. It won’t define my career. I have goals beyond Roland Garros, like the Olympics.”
Nadal rightly points out that his season doesn’t hinge solely on Roland Garros, as the Olympics present a more achievable goal, with the same court surface and best-of-three matches compared to the grueling best-of-five format at Roland Garros.
This shift in perspective reflects Nadal’s focus on managing his physical condition and performance, prioritizing shorter matches over prolonged play.
