Rafael Nadal feels better about his fitness now than he did when he first got to Madrid. He’s getting ready to play in Rome and also getting prepared for the French Open.
Even though Nadal lost to Jiri Lehecka in Madrid, he’s happy with how things went. He’s been dealing with injuries but feels good about his progress.
Nadal said it was a good week for him in Madrid. He played four matches, including some tough ones, and won three of them. He’s glad he could play well at home and is leaving Madrid feeling positive.
When Nadal got to Madrid, he wasn’t sure if he could even play because of his physical condition. But he decided to give it a shot because Madrid is an important tournament for him emotionally.
Nadal, who’s 37 years old, is retiring after this year on the tour. He already said goodbye to Barcelona, where he lost early in the tournament. This was his first tournament since January.
“Today is a day I won’t forget because it’s my last goodbye to Madrid,” he said. “But my career is still on, and I have goals I want to achieve in the next few weeks, so I’m eager to see if I can make them happen.”
Nadal also mentioned Rome, where he’s won 10 titles, starting May 8. “Rome is another special tournament for me,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed of playing in these tournaments where I’ve had success. I missed Monte Carlo, which is also special, but Rome is one I’ve always enjoyed playing.”
In Madrid, Nadal won against Darwin Blanch and Alex de Minaur in straight sets and Pedro Cachin in three sets. “I want to perform well in Rome,” he said. “I want to be competitive and give myself a chance to play good tennis, so I’ll keep working hard to make that happen.”
One of Nadal’s main goals in his last season is playing at the French Open, starting May 26. He’s won the title there a record 14 times.
