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Nadal confirms he’s ready for Barcelona: ‘I’m going to give it my all’
The Spaniard will return on Tuesday in Barcelona
April 15, 2024
Barcelona opens Banc Sabadell
Rafael Nadal speaks to the media on Monday at the Banc Sabadell Barcelona Open.
By Alvaro Rama
The excitement of playing in a tennis tournament is once again building for Rafael Nadal, who returns at the Banc Sabadell Barcelona Open this week. The former World No. 1, who has been sidelined since 5 January, is working hard in the Catalan city towards one simple goal — to have the opportunity to play at home, hit the ball loose and try to enjoy himself on the court, something he has done for his whole life and now longs to do again.
“I am happy to be here,” said the Spaniard, who has not been to the Conde de Godó event since claiming his 12th title there in 2021. “I have many very good memories of this tournament. Unfortunately, I have not been able to be here in recent years. Fortunately I managed to come here as a last minute decision. I think, all things considered, the week of training has been positive. Tomorrow I will be in court.”
The match, where he will face the Italian Flavio Cobolli, who is currently No. 62 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will be his door back to the circuit after a wait that has seemed eternal to everyone. Real Club de Tennis Barcelona 1899 fans have been pushing to catch a glimpse of one of their greatest heroes, well aware of the long road he has trodden to get there.
After coming through an unprecedented 2023 season, after psoas surgery and an old hip problem, the Spaniard was back on the ATP Tour in January in Brisbane. At the event in Australia, he took two wins before bowing out to Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals, in a match that ended with injury.
Rafa suffered a minor muscle tear in the area that had kept him off the courts in 2023, forcing him to pull out of the Australian Open and the ATP 250 in Doha, two events he had planned to play at the start of the term. Subsequently, treading carefully, he decided not to play in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the Miami Open presented by Itaú, or the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the first three ATP 1000 Masters of the season.
The Mallorcan seems to be taking the situation wrongly, while being realistic about the facts about returning to professional competition.
“It doesn’t make me hesitant at all, the question is whether I can or not,” he explained. “It’s been a difficult two years, I had a major hip operation and took a year to recover from it. When that happens, it’s hard. Things happen to your body and they have prevented me from following my schedule as I would have liked. [It is about] accept situations — when you can, you can and when you can’t, you can’t. Although it bothers me to miss some events, it is what it is. I have to take stock of all the good things that have happened to me throughout my life. At this point in my career, unfortunately or not, I’m in a different position.”
The 12-time champion is counting his blessings and savoring every second of his time in Barcelona, where he is already starting to feel the heat of the competition.
“Instead of regretting the places I haven’t been able to play, I’m happy to be here. On a personal level, for me being in Barcelona is a gift,” Nadal said. “I’m treating it like my last year, I want to enjoy every second. That makes everything a little more special. Right now that’s how I feel. It hurt not being able to be in Monte-Carlo last week but, fortunately, things have improved this week. I feel ready to go out and play tomorrow.
“Without thinking anything more about it, about my readiness. I am aware of the situation. Things can happen, I’m just prepared. But I’m realistic and, for me, being here is exciting and being able to play this tournament and on this court makes me happy.”
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In an event he has been playing in for over two decades, since his first participation in the 2003 season, the Mallorcan spoke about how it makes him feel to be in the tournament in a year that is unlike any other.
“At other times I’ve been excited to come here with the feeling that I have a chance of winning. I’m not going to say that this time is more exciting than others,” Nadal explained. “They have all been special and important to me. Fortunately, I have experienced many things that have given me great memories. That’s life. Everything has a beginning and an end. In terms of sports, I don’t know what could happen in the future. Right now I’m treating this as if it’s my last participation in the Godó tournament. This is my current feeling.
“I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can, while still being competitive. I’m not going out there for respect, I’m going to try to do as well as possible to give myself opportunities. Training this week was positive and I’m going to give it my all.”
Editor’s note: This interview has been translated from ATPTour.com/es.
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