This time, he is (really) back... Rafael Nadal confirmed Monday afternoon that he will play his first round of the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona, Tuesday, against the Italian Cobolli (63rd). The Spaniard, who will be 38 years old in June and is now at an anecdotal 644th rank, will end 102 days (or more than three months) without competition since his defeat in early January against Thompson in the quarter-finals in Brisbane.
The rest was only a long journey of the cross for the Mallorcan, who had to give up several times to return to the competition route. After missing the American tour at the last minute (despite an exhibition contested in Las Vegas against his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz), the man with 14 Roland-Garros titles had to skip the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo last week.
Suffice it to say that despite his presence on Saturday at the draw, nothing guaranteed 100% that he would appear on the court... “I'm happy to be here, I have a lot of very good memories of this tournament (which he won twelve times), smiled the left-hander from Manacor during a press conference. I was able to make the last-minute decision to come here. The week of training was good and tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be on court. »
Injured in the hip at the start of the year, the former world No. 1 has had to deal with abdominal problems over the last two months. In particular, he was forced to modify his actions on duty to cope with the pain.
“We will continue to move forward as long as I think it is worth it”
“I had two difficult years (he hardly played in 2023), I had a major hip operation, things were happening in my body that didn't allow me to be at my best. level that I wanted, he explains when returning to a surface that he has not used since his 14th Parisian title in 2022. Even if it costs me to miss tournaments, that's how it is. At this point in my career, rather than lamenting about the places I can't be, I'd rather be happy to be here. I'm taking this as my last year and I want to enjoy every moment. »
Nadal returned to the process that led him to line up in Catalonia, where his sessions against Rublev or Musetti reassured him. “My feelings here are better than in Mallorca and I feel ready,” he emphasizes. I have not used much in recent months but I will try to take on the expenses gradually. That's how it is, I have to live with this uncertainty and with that be able to see things in a positive way and compete. »
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When asked if he was afraid, the King of Paris frowned. “Not being able to play? This is what has happened to me for a year and a half, he whispers. We'll keep moving forward as long as I think it's worth it. I don't set a deadline for myself but life takes your path and in accordance with my ethics I try to do what is as logical as possible. »
Roland-Garros and the Paris Olympics are both very close and so far away. But Nadal deserves his exit from the Seine to match the mark he will leave on his favorite land. “We’re going to go there day after day,” he says. There were a lot of days that were physically hard and ended up taking a toll on the mind. On good days, I still have fun playing tennis. They make up for the bad ones. I know that the difficulties I encounter are great, but I take them for what they are, a part of life and that of an athlete. »