Rafael Nadal is not at full strength and might never be again, but the King of Clay says he’s in a better place than he was a month ago on the eve of the French Open.
“I am improving in different ways. I have less limitations than three, four weeks ago, without a doubt,” Nadal Saturday at Roland Garros. “I am having a good week of practices. I probably will say this is the first week since I came back playing tennis that I am able to run the proper way without having a lot of limitations. That encourages me.
“In the practices, without a doubt I improved. Especially in terms of movements. So I don’t feel the limitations that I felt in Rome in terms of running to both sides, so that’s a lot for me.”
After missing 2023 due to his hip, Nadal returns to Chatrier Monday to face Rome Masters winner Alexander Zverev.
“Of course on the paper is not the best draw,” Nadal said with a smile. “I play against one of the toughest opponents possible, and at the same time, he came here winning the last event and it’s a Masters 1000. It’s not a small one. So just, yeah, what can I do? That’s the draw. Just try to be ready for it.”
Nadal added that this might not be his final French Open.
“As I said, it’s a big, big chance that going to be my last Roland Garros, but if I have to tell you it’s 100% my last Roland Garros, sorry, but I will not, because I cannot predict what’s going on. I hope you understand.
“So in some way I don’t want to close 100% the door, because a very simple thing. First thing, I am enjoying playing tennis. Second thing, I am traveling with the family. They are enjoying. I am enjoying sharing all this process with them.”
Regardless, Nadal will have to first deal with Zverev before anything.
“I feel very proud that probably I leave a positive legacy there,” Nadal added. “Not only about tennis. Probably about like human person, no? So that’s more important than any result at the end of the day, because the results are there, you know. That’s it.”
