Rafael Nadal has said he would love to keep playing long enough for his son to remember him on the court, although the 22-time Grand Slam champion admits time is not on his side.
The 37-year-old Spaniard, who expects to retire after the 2024 season, returned to competing in Brisbane in January after almost a year out with a hip injury.
He was then out for another period with a thigh problem and, although he returned in Barcelona last week, he said he is far from being in top form and does not know whether he will play in the French Open next month.
Nadal beat Darwin Blanch 6-1 6-0 in the first round of the Madrid tournament on Thursday, with his wife and one-year-old son Rafael Jr looking on.
“Well, I would love to play some more and give him a memory of me playing tennis,” Nadal said of playing in front of his son. “This is what would be ideal for me, my wife and my family.” “I probably won’t be able to make that happen. But at least I’m happy to have a great team, family and friends around me my entire life who have helped me in every way to be happy,” he added.
Nadal, five-time champion in Madrid, will face Australian Alex de Minaur, tenth seed, on Saturday (27).
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