If I was in Paris today, I wouldn’t go out to play – Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal’s future has been on a swing in the last 18 months. The Spaniard recently returned to the tour in the Barcelona Open, where he won his opening-round match against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli but lost to Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the second round.

Nadal is now all set to take one more step in his path to the all-important Roland Garros by taking part in the Madrid Masters. However, Nadal admitted he is still not 100% and he would not have taken part in Roland Garros if the tournament was to start today.

Nadal had recently said he wants to take one step at a time and if he stays fit, he will give everything in Paris.

“If I was in Paris today, I wouldn’t go out to play,” Nadal told a press conference, in reference to Roland Garros.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to play at 100% but it’s important to be able to play for the last time in Madrid, it means a lot to me to play on this court where I’ve had some great moments.”

“This doesn’t mean I’m giving up on anything in the next few weeks, I don’t know what might happen…

“I’m going to do the things I have to do to be able to play in Paris. And if I can, I can and if I can’t, I can’t. I’m going to Paris if I feel like I’m good enough… if I feel capable enough to compete.”

Nadal is well known to give his 120% on the court and it is evident in the way he still chases the ball. The veteran admitted he won’t be doing himself justice if he plays despite not being at his best.

“I am a competitive person and it is difficult to play without being able to give my best. If you ask me if I was happy in Barcelona, I say ‘no, I wasn’t happy’. What happens is that if I had tried to be happy in Barcelona today I probably wouldn’t be here, that’s the reality,” Nadal said.

“That’s why I want to try to go out and play in Paris feeling capable enough to compete well. I’m going to do my best to try to make it happen, and if it doesn’t I’ll have the personal satisfaction and the gratitude for having tried.

Nadal will take on 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in the opening round in Madrid.