Nadal: "The sensations are not ideal"

Everything was going smoothly, until ten days ago.

Then,

began to suffer pain in the lower back and, despite participating in an exhibition in Adelaide, touched, then he could not compete in the ATP Cup with the Spanish team.

It is not, therefore, the situation desired by the champion of 20 majors, who will debut on Tuesday against Serbian Laslo Djere and on the route to that duel will complete the umpteenth race against the clock.

There is no alarm, but above all caution.

The Spaniard pampers his back and conveyed his feelings in the preamble to the

that starts the next morning in Melbourne.

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“Until ten days ago, almost everything was perfect.

But two or three before playing [the exhibition] in Adelaide the problems began, although I had a commitment and did not want to break it, "the Majorcan introduced with a serious tone.

“He had had a progressive preseason and things were going really well.

I got here very well, but after this happened and the good feelings turned into problems.

When you have been suffering for the last ten days and on top of that you cannot train with the intensity that you would have liked, the sensations become more complicated ”, he continued.

Asked about what exactly the ailment was, Nadal (34 years old) stressed that it affects him above all taking out.

“I have a muscle that tenses and does not allow me to move freely.

He does not let me develop the movement one hundred percent or force it ”, he specified.

However, in his last training session - supervised by Francis Roig, the technician who will accompany him these days - he tried the maneuver again and perceived a positive evolution.

“Today I have taken out again after a few days and I have felt better, but it was loading me a little,” he explained.

“It is not a serious problem, because I have had the relevant tests done, but I have not improved as much as I would like.

We are in a difficult situation, in which I would not have liked to be;

But having said that, I am not giving up anything and I am going to try to give myself the opportunity to compete.

The goal is to get to Tuesday as well as possible.

I am concerned, but I have experience with this.

The only thing I can do is try to be as good as possible ”, added the Spaniard, who will land at the Australian Open without having played a previous match.

It is not a new situation, since the Manacor has not been able to do it three of the last four years.

The last time he was seen competing was on November 22, when he lost in the semifinals of the Masters Cup against Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Later, Nadal completed the preseason at his academy - "I have a good baggage behind him - and on January 14 he flew to Adelaide, where he completed the quarantine that the authorities required of all tennis players.

He enjoyed the presence of 4,000 people in the stands of the exhibition and then he witnessed the ATP Cup from the sidelines.

"The sensations are not ideal, but since I have been doing things well for many weeks, if I could play more or less freely, I think I can feel good," he concluded in a telematic conference that almost strictly adhered to the state of his back. .

THE "UNIQUE EXPERIENCE" OF ALCARAZ

Designated as Nadal's natural replacement, scrupulously respecting distances, Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed a unique moment on Friday, when he was able to rally for the first time with Nadal.

"I am very happy to have enjoyed this unique experience," said the Murcian through social networks.

The 17-year-old boy will compete for the first time in a Grand Slam and shared talks and blows with the Mallorcan.

It is not, in any case, his first exchange with a colossus.

Last year, at Wimbledon, he rehearsed with the Swiss Roger Federer.

With the desire to make a good impression and close 2021 among the top 50 - today it is 146th -, he will begin his career against the Dutch Van de Zandschulp, the 159th in the world.