"It will be tough if I'm not there, but I will only play if I feel competitive. I don't want to play at the Roland Garros if I have to proceed with caution and without being able to give my best effort, as happened in Barcelona and Madrid. It was such a special tournament in my career and of such sentimental value to me, that I would rather have another memory of it. It will be tough if I'm not there, but I will only play if I feel competitive. I will only play if I feel I can give 100% of my possibilities. If this doesn't help me win a single game, I'll accept it, but I don't see myself going onto the pitch knowing I have no chance.
If there's only a 0.01% chance I want to try, but if I have absolutely none, I'd rather not play."
Rafael Nadal had explained in this way what he thought about his possible participation in the Roland Garros 2024, perhaps the last Parisian Slam of his glorious career (but who knows!). The Spaniard, fresh from defeat in the second round of the Italian Open against Hubert Hurkacz, is training to be able to play the tournament in which he rewrote the history of tennis, on those courts that saw him become a sporting legend.
Nadal, however, wants to be at Roland Garros in the best possible version of himself. This is why he is training hard; try to give yourself one last great emotion. And the news filtering from Spain seems to be encouraging: Rafa should be able to play in Paris. The Spaniard, who at the press conference of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia after the defeat against Hurkacz opened up the possibility of a come back in Rome, could play one last time on the Philippe Chatrier, to give his fans (and himself) a 'last great rush of emotions.
The news coming from Spain, as mentioned, is positive and also pleased the German tennis legend Boris Becker. Through a post on Twitter, Becker expressed his enthusiasm about Rafa's come back to Paris.
"Good news," wrote Becker.
Good news https://t.co/bzu58q5MZb
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) May 15, 2024
Regarding his current state of physical fitness, Nadal had already revealed important details in Rome.
"I'm fine, it's a great joy for me to have been able to play in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome. It was a hard blow not to be able to do it in Monte Carlo because all these events have a great and important meaning for me. For a long time I thought this would be my last year, luckily now I've been feeling much better for a few weeks," he told.
Nadal also expressed himself in the same press conference on his possible participation in the Paris Olympics and the changes that had occurred in his private life.
"There are sensations you can only experience at the Games, it's the essence of sport. This year they are very special in Paris, so I would be very excited to compete, it's something that would make me happy. All changes in life are difficult, but I am lucky to have a family and an environment that give me many other things that make me happy. It is clear that the adrenaline and emotions experienced in sport are difficult to find in everyday life, but that's the way it is. I had a very serious injury when I was 19 and there were many chances that I wouldn't be able to continue playing professionally," he explained.
According to what AS reports, Rafael Nadal has decided to take the court to play the Roland Garros. After the last few weeks there were still doubts about his presence but now the Majorcan tennis player would have dispelled any doubts.
Nadal has won Roland Garros 14 times and has set records that are unlikely to ever be broken. He is now ready to take the field again but, as mentioned, we don't know if it's his last time or not. Nadal will not have a Wild card as he will take to the court with the protected ranking of number 34 in the world, but this does not make him exempt from possible extreme challenges already in the first round. Maybe one last great challenge against Novak Djokovic? It's what all the fans obviously expect: the two proud lions battling it out once again.
Gracias, Rafa! 😭
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 11, 2024
Ten-time champion @RafaelNadal bows out in Rome for the final time. Thanks you for all the memories! 🙏#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/n1clMno7xI