Rafael Nadal until the end | ATP Tour

Roma

Rafael Nadal until the end

The Spaniard considers his exit in the second round in Rome

May 11, 2024

This Saturday, Rafael Nadal put an end to his participation in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, after losing in the second round against Hubert Hurkacz 6-1, 6-3. Beyond the result and the sensations, the Spaniard made a first reflection to embrace the DNA that has identified him throughout his career.

“You have to accept it. It was a hard day for me in every way, because I felt more prepared than I showed,” acknowledged the ten-time ATP Masters 1000 champion in Rome in the conference room. “That gives me a bad feeling, because if I feel better I can’t show it on the track.”

Now, as he has done throughout his professional career, he refuses to throw in the towel at any price and when he was asked about the future, about his next stop in Paris to play Roland Garros, he left aside the disappointment of the defeat to respond firmly.

“There are two paths,” he began his reflection. “You would probably say: OK, I’m not ready, I’m not playing well enough. “Then it is time to make the decision not to play Roland Garros,” she noted before adding: “Another is to accept how I am today and work in the right way to try to arrive in a different way in two weeks.”

“The decision, as you can imagine, is not clear in my head today,” he was quick to clarify. “But if I have to say what my feelings are and if my head is closer to one path or another, I am going to say that I will be at Roland Garros and I will give it my all.”

And Nadal wants to be on the starting grid next Sunday, June 26, among the 128 players fighting for the Musketeers Cup, which he has won fourteen times.

“Physically I have some problems, but they are probably not enough to say that I will not play one of the most important tournaments of my career,” he said.

Furthermore, the Spaniard had words of gratitude to the fans who have supported him both in Italy and in the rest of the world during all these years on the circuit.

“I have said it throughout my career, that I will never be able to thank enough for all the love and support I have received around the world,” he said. “Here in Rome, obviously, it is one of the most important tournaments of my career, one of those events that I will always carry in my heart for many reasons.”

“Here I have played some of the most important games, beautiful, emotional games. In many moments of my career, I was able to recover from difficult moments in Rome, especially in the last eight years, when I arrived here with some doubts and started to play well,” he noted regarding the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome.

The Spaniard will travel to Paris, after having played three ATP Tour tournaments in Barcelona (second round), Madrid (fourth round) and Rome (second round), registering a 5-3 record. Better or worse, what no one can doubt is that he is going to do everything in his power to add a few more victories at Roland Garros. It will be Rafael Nadal until the end.