By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday Could 25, 2024
Will this be Rafael Nadal’s final Roland-Garros?
Possibly, possibly not.
The King of Clay talked to a packed room of reporters on Saturday, and mentioned he isn’t keen to name his nineteenth look on the Parisian clay his final. He’s enhancing with each week, and is simply undecided how his future will form up.
“It is a large, large probability that it’s going to be my final Roland-Garros, but when I’ve to let you know it is one hundred pc my final Roland Garros, sorry, however I can’t, as a result of I can’t predict what is going on on – I hope you perceive,” he mentioned.
“Not directly I do not need to shut one hundred pc the door… Very first thing, I’m having fun with taking part in tennis. Second factor, I’m touring with the household. They’re having fun with. I’m having fun with sharing all this course of with them.”
Nadal – he of the 112-3 general file and 14 Roland-Garros titles – says he’s completely satisfied about the way in which he has been capable of carry out in observe since he suffered a second-round defeat to Hubert Hurkacz in Rome.
RAFA 💯 HOLGER #RolandGarros @RafaelNadal @holgerrune2003 pic.twitter.com/njTFPM5UnF
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) Could 25, 2024
The 37-year-old says his motion, particularly, has improved.
“It is a totally different match, a unique feeling utterly,” he mentioned. “However I progressed. Within the practices, undoubtedly I improved, particularly when it comes to actions. So I do not really feel the restrictions that I felt in Rome when it comes to operating, either side, in order that’s rather a lot for me.”
Nadal will face fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev in opening-round motion on Monday. It will likely be the primary time he performs the occasion unseeded, and the primary time he has confronted a participant ranked greater than 39 within the first spherical.
“After all on paper it isn’t the very best draw,” Nadal opined. “I play towards one of many hardest opponents attainable, and on the identical time, he got here right here successful the final occasion and it is a Masters 1000. That is the draw. Simply attempt to be prepared for it.”
