Nadal is preparing to return to clay court competition | ATP Tour

Reportage

This is how Nadal is preparing to return to clay court competition

The Spaniard trains and shares his days with the Argentine Tomás Etcheverry, in Greece

July 10, 2024

Rafael Nadal clenches his fist, roars and puts his usual intensity into every ball as if it were his last. The image is repeated on multiple occasions. This has been the case in the last few days of the winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments, with pure dedication and intense training in the paradisiacal Sani, on the shores of the Aegean Sea.

After falling in his debut at Roland Garros, the former world No. 1 had a clear plan: skip Wimbledon to avoid a demanding change of surface for his body and thus be able to find his best form on clay, to return to the ring at the ATP250 in Bastad and then, the Olympic Games in Paris.

After a few days at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in his native Mallorca, Nadal wanted more. And to do so, he invited Argentine Tomás Etcheverry, currently No. 31 in the PIF ATP Rankings and Top 5 this season in wins on clay with a record of 19-13, to train with him. Where? At the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in Greece, which opened in 2019. Nadal arrived there accompanied by his entire team and under the watchful eye of Carlos Moyà.

“The place where we train is crazy… and Nadal is at full capacity, playing very well for me,” the Argentine told ATPTour.com. What has the experience been like for the fans sharing several days of training with the 14-time Roland Garros champion? “I had the opportunity to ask him things, to ask for advice, and he is always very humble, he is always helping and moving forward, and very attentive to everyone,” said Etcheverry.

“These days were a dream for me, a very nice experience, especially being able to share with Rafa, a player that I have seen and watched since I started playing tennis, he is one of the most successful in history so it was all crazy, that is why it was a privilege and an honor,” said an excited Etcheverry, who was accompanied by his entire team, his coach Wally Grinovero and his PF Martiniano Orazi.

After training on Wednesday, Nadal will leave for Bastad, Sweden. It will be his return to an event he won in 2005 in his last participation, to continue seeking competitive rhythm and training before the big Olympic event in Paris, where he will compete in singles and doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.