Nadal: “I consider this my last year”

There will be better tennis players than Nadal, very few, almost no one will be more successful, but practically no one will be more competitive: he will be on clay in Barcelona to play Godot. He won’t come “to take a photo or pay tribute,” but rather “is ready to compete”: ““I came here and left the decision until the last minute because I didn’t know if I could play, but finally tomorrow I will be on the court,” he commented.. The Balearic tennis player has not played official matches since January 5 in Brisbane (Australia) and tomorrow he will make his debut at the tournament in Barcelona against Italian Flavio Cobolli. In his own words, he is looking no further than this match.

Obviously, Godot is not just another tournament for Rafa Nadal, he won it 12 times in his career, but this participation will not be just another: it will be his last. Without confirming this one hundred percent, he still said that “I regard this as my last participation.” That’s why his presence in Barcelona is “like a gift” and he wants to “enjoy every moment.” The injuries that hampered him in the final part of his career did not disappear, but gave him some respite: “I have a positive feeling at the moment I live. I’m happy. “We all know about the problems we face, and I honestly don’t want to talk about it.”– said the Spanish tennis player. He confirmed that training is going well and that he sees himself at a sufficient level to be competitive in Barcelona: “It is difficult, my body does not allow me to have the schedule that I would like. Although it hurts, I had to miss tournaments. But in my situation, I more than regret it, I’m glad to be here. My experience was better than in Mallorca. “I feel like I’m ready to compete, but we’ll see what happens.”

During his first public appearance in Barcelona, ​​Nadal seemed resigned to his situation and his future. He used the expression “it is what it is” several times and reminded that “everything in life has an end.” It’s getting closer, it’s obvious, but it’s still worth playing tennis: “Being here is an illusion and a joy. Good days make up for it for me. “I enjoy training and remain enthusiastic”, he said. However, he left doubts about his service (“I received very little during these months”) and emphasized that he was mentally prepared for anything: “What can happen? What can’t I play? There is uncertainty, but it is what it is.”

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