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After the best start to a season of his career, winning the first 20 matches of 2022, Rafa Nadal was forced to the sidelines by a fractured rib. The Spanish legend, whose seemingly-boundless determination has carried him through plenty of setbacks in his career, is back at the Mutua Madrid Open this week and prepared to restart his season.
“I feel fine. In terms of preparation and tennis, it’s a different story”, admitted the Spaniard, all too aware of his situation. “Anyone who has broken a rib knows how limiting it is and the pain it produces. The first few weeks were particularly immobilising. After that I was able to do some gym work. It’s an injury that’s not significant, you know that it’s a certain [recovery] time and that really helps. But it was an injury that meant I could barely do any training”.
The Mallorcan picked up the fracture during the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open he played against his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz on 19 March, and necessary prudence has kept him away from competition since.
“It was lost time, there was no possibility of doing many things. It was six weeks and I started to train two weeks ago. The first weeks I could only do half an hour of very light work, which barely counts. But I’m very excited to be here”.
The Spaniard, a five-time champion at the Mutua Madrid Open, has been working in the Caja Mágica over the last few days to fine tune his game in double practice sessions in which he made the most of every minute.
“I still have days left. Today’s Sunday, I have this afternoon, Monday and Tuesday to try. I’ve improved since the day I arrived. I’m still having ups and downs after some time without being in this situation. It’s going to be a difficult week, that’s the reality. You have to keep a level head, accept that things will not be perfect. And from there, fight”.
“I’m trying to treat these days as a kind of preseason, without thinking beyond that. This is a tournament that has come slightly too soon for my preparations. Unfortunately you have to approach it with that in mind. You have to appreciate the positive things that happen, in terms of moments of good play, if a victory comes, that’s fantastic. You have to be quite patient and humble in order to stay present. I have to value the positive things that happen with my sights set on some week in the future. What happened has happened and you have to accept it”.
“It was a significant timeout, very bad for this time of the season, but I’m not one to regret things or complain. It is what it is. In life you can complain or feel sorry for yourself all day, but normally that doesn’t get you anywhere. Of course, they were difficult weeks, but from there, all you can do is look forward and look at your next goals with passion and determination”, explained the Spaniard honestly.
“It was a bad time. It’s a challenge for me, and I’m ready to accept adversity and the difficulty that comes with it. But, also, with the confidence that I have a few weeks to find some form. I’ve never said it like that because to me tournaments are very important, and even more so at this point of the season. It was very tough not being able to play in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, but I have three weeks left until Paris. Unfortunately, this year I have to look at it a little more in that way”.
“You always have to put things into perspective. I’m very happy about how I started the year, although I also have to see the negative side. After five months without playing, with everything I had to do to get to the level that won me three straight tournaments and being in the final of the next one, breaking my rib was quite a blow. But it is what it is. I have to do the daily work as well as I can, valuing any positives that occur and having the humility to understand that, when you come back in the middle of the season, things don’t happen immediately”.
Source: Madrid Open
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MADRID (Reuters): Rafael Nadal deemed Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from taking part in the Championships as "unfair", the Spanish tennis legend told reporters in Madrid on Sunday.
The 21-time major winner believes the All England Club chose "the most drastic option", and hopes the tours can find a way to interfere with the ban.
The ban rules out a swathe of talented players including men's world number two Daniil Medvedev and last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
"It's unfair for my Russian colleagues," said Nadal.
"In that sense it's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war.
"I'm sorry for them. I wish it was not this way, but at the end of the day we know that this is what we have."
Nadal, who is returning to competitive play after a six week hiatus due to a rib injury, said it may fall upon him and his fellow players to take a stand.
"As a fellow player, what can I say? I feel sorry for them," said the 35-year-old two-time Wimbledon champion.
"I wish this was not the case.
“Let's see what happens in the coming weeks and let's see if we as players need to take a stand.
"There is something wrong."
Nadal criticised Wimbledon for going beyond their remit.
"When a government orders something, you need to follow the rules," he said.
"In this case, the government issued a recommendation and Wimbledon decided to impose the most drastic option without being forced to do so."
The Grand Slams are independent of the ATP and WTA but the tours grant them ranking points, which could be withheld if an agreement is not reached on the matter.
"We know that Slams are outside the ATP, but as ATP we grant them the most points of all events," said Nadal.
"They are the most important. The 2,000 points, whenever we go to the Grand Slams, they are really important and we have to go to those tournaments."
"So we will have to see the measures that we take, and it's very unfair thing for them, for sure."
Nadal is seeded number three in Madrid and opens his campaign against the winner of the first round clash between Alexander Bublik and Miomir Kecmanovic.
 
Photos: MMO; Europa Press; Abaca
• Interview at the Madrid Open Studio
• Press conference
• Interview for #Vamos
• Pre-tournament interview (ENG)
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