I feel like I’m finding the pleasure of playing again – Rafael Nadal

Veteran Rafael Nadal is finding pleasure in playing at the top level again. Nadal was knocked out of the French Open in the first round after losing against Alexander Zverev in straight sets.

Nadal has been troubled by a plethora of injuries throughout his career and recently made a comeback after recovering from a hip injury, following an 18-month hiatus.

Nadal said,  “I feel like I’m finding the pleasure of playing again, having fun.

“I want to give myself a chance to see if my physique remains at this level or if it is only a temporary moment and that it starts to go wrong again. I give myself time to see how I will feel after the Olympic Games and then we will see what will happen, what decisions I will make.”

Meanwhile, the Spaniard has also decided to opt out of the upcoming Wimbledon in order to prepare for the Olympics as he didn’t want to change surface.

Nadal might have played his last game at Roland Garros but he decided not to have a special ceremony.

The veteran told L’Equipe, “At first, I said, ‘OK, let’s go!’ But at the last minute I said I didn’t want it, that’s the truth. It would have bothered me to announce that it was the last time I was playing the tournament, knowing that I did not have the opportunity to prepare as I would have liked.”

He continued, “And nothing prevents them from waiting a year. If the tribute takes place and I am retired, I will go there as a retiree. And if I still play, I will obviously be present. I preferred not to live with the idea that they had to pay tribute to me, because it was practically forcing me not to play here again and I was not ready at that time.”

Nadal will now take part in the ATP 250 in Bastaad, beginning on July 15.