Rafael Nadal will return to the clay court tour at Roland Garros on May 26. The Spaniard has not played in Australia or in Indian Wells.
Nadal's competitive instinct remains intact, beyond the scoreboard and statistics. The Mallorcan hopes to enjoy one last dance at the Bois de Boulogne, but today, everything is still up in the air. The average speed of his kick (around 190 km / h) has been significantly reduced, although he increased it from the first (160 km / h) to the second appearance (170 km / H) of the tournament. The returnhand and the backhand are easily recoverable, but the service is not. The outcome starts from the origin - the outcome starts with a highly symbolic load, summarized in seven days that concentrate as many certainties as questions. It is a first goodbye with a very symbolic load, but it is not the end of the world for Nadal; it is the beginning of a new beginning. Located in 644th place on the world list, the Spaniard is forced to pay a double price to be able to attend the tournaments. The loss of status also means that from the first rounds, he must face important opponents like De Minaur himself, so the terrain tilts from the beginning. “Once the first set is lost, the match is over," he acknowledged after giving in to De Miaur. Nadal emphasized that the real goal is Paris, where he could not play last year as a result of the iliopsoas injury. There, the matches would move on to the demanding five-set format, without forgetting the requirements of the clay context. Least damaging in terms of knees or supports, it is the most demanding from the point of view of resistance and strength. 'Sometimes it is difficult to play when you know that you are not going to be able to fight the whole game; today, because in a few weeks it will surely be [...].'