Nadal: “In a general perspective, the line is upward”

Rome Italy) – After many weeks without competing, Spaniard Rafael Nadal is managing to compete in three tournaments in a row. After his return at the ATP 500 in Barcelona, ​​he competed in the Masters 1000 in Madrid and this week he started his campaign at the Masters 1000 in Rome. He arrives at Foro Itálico with a positive assessment of what he has done so far.

“I spent several days at home resting after Madrid, I came to Rome and was able to train. I’m excited to play here, where I had unforgettable moments. It’s my third tournament in a row and that’s good news. I have to keep observing the day to day, but I’m happy with how I feel”, declared Nadal in a press conference before his debut against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs.

Even though he didn’t shine, he looks favorably on what he did in previous tournaments. “It’s a good moment, although the results are not good. I’m enjoying playing, happy to do this. When I talk about retirement, it’s not because I’m no longer happy or because I don’t feel competitive enough. It’s just that my body wasn’t able to play for weeks at a time,” he said.

The Spaniard celebrates the physical response he has shown, although it is not ideal. “My evolution is not the same every day. Even after Barcelona, ​​​​I had some difficult moments in Madrid. Even here on the first day. In a general perspective, the line is ascending. I’m happy because a month ago it was almost impossible to think about playing Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Rome”, commented Nadal.

Regret for the absences of Alcaraz and Sinner

With his career marked by absences due to injury, the former world number 1 regretted that compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and home tennis player Jannik Sinner will not be able to compete in Rome this year. “I have missed many important tournaments in my career because of injuries. As a player, you can’t complain about that, you just accept what happens and move on,” said Nadal.

“If you get injured, you have to recover well. They are young, they will have many opportunities to play in Rome. There is no drama, the tournament will survive even without Carlos and Jannik, who are super important players for any event today. Not having Jannik playing here after everything he represents for the country is bad news. As a spectator and colleague of his, I feel sad for him”, he concluded.