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Nadal's great desire: to play, above all to play

2022-12-31T10:45:31.762Z


The Spaniard opens the new course with a defeat against Norrie in the United Cup (3-6, 6-3 and 6-4) and the goal of competing regularly after two difficult years


The abrasive tennis calendar has these things: the year is not over yet and the grapes are not eaten yet, but the 2023 season is well underway.

Australia as the beginning and end, with the same protagonist: Rafael Nadal.

The 36-year-old Spaniard signed that feat in January – going back to Daniil Medvedev in the Open final – and now he is in the spotlight at the start of the new course, which begins with an experimental tournament for players to roll around and reach point to the first big one, which starts on the 16th in Melbourne.

The United Cup – a mixed team competition – serves as the starting signal and there is no better claim than the presence of the Spaniard, who, made to make a wish before the chimes, is clear: play, play and play.

“The main thing for me is to recover the good sensations, to be competitive.

And I hope so.

I am prepared for it to be so, but we will see…”, he expressed three days ago in Sydney, when the Spanish team –completed by Paula Badosa, Pablo Carreño, Nuria Párrizas, Albert Ramos, Jessica Bouzas and David Vega– formed and expressed Before the media, with him in the lead and a question floating around: Will Nadal be able to repeat what he did eleven months ago in Melbourne?

Having seen what was seen in the premiere against Cameron Norrie, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-4 in favor of the British, the Balearic Islands still have a long way to go;

However, among his plans right now there is an absolute priority, that of being able to compete regularly.

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"The last few months have not been easy for me," he recalls, referring to the succession of setbacks he had once he won the Australian trophy;

that is, a cracked rib, pain and intervention in the left foot, double abdominal tear... and the uncertainty that preceded his first paternity.

That said, the 22-time champion – 37 years old on June 3, 23 already in the elite – is only concerned right now with "trying to play at the highest possible level" and giving himself the opportunity to "continue being competitive" to "fight for everything”, taking into account that the last two seasons have been peppered with injuries and he has had to visit the infirmary too often.

Specifically, Nadal was forced to give up the second half of 2021 due to the chronic foot injury he suffered and that course he was only able to play 29 games, distributed over seven tournaments.

This year, the figure grew significantly (47 and 12), but the aftertaste that remains is bittersweet because he understands that the priority is to have continuity, and that has not been the case.

He emphasizes that the man from Manacor is that the fundamental thing is to be able to train and get on the track, and that from there, good progress will come naturally.

Subject to the conditions of his age and the wear and tear on his body, he knows that he must select, but his objective for this 2023 is essentially to gain presence and be able to complete the road map without the shocks that have hit him in recent times and will they drove, without going any further,

Comeback Cam brings the fireworks early!🎇



The Brit overcomes Rafael Nadal in three-sets for his first win over the Spaniard in five matches 🙌#UnitedCup |

@cam_norrie pic.twitter.com/azptPnt2nr

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 31, 2022

“Will this be my last Australian Open?

You never know, but I hope not.

At this age you never know when the last will be, but I don't like to talk about it because I'm not thinking about it right now.

I just concentrate on playing, that's my goal, not thinking that it might be the last time... But if it were, we're going to enjoy it as much as possible, right?

Let's try to create something special”, exposes the number two in the world, who this Saturday gave himself a good tute against Norrie, always hard to crack the British.

Both were used to the full for 2h 46m, with the mismatches and logical errors of a preseason duel.

In any case, the greatest integrity of the winner prevailed.

“It hasn't been a disaster.

I can and should do things better, but I haven't played much before [his last official match was on November 17, against Casper Ruud in the Masters Cup] and he played a couple of days ago [win against Alex de Miñaur].

I have to be faster and more solid, make fewer mistakes and decide better, but I think I have time before the Open.

If you win, you relax and have confidence, but it hasn't been like that;

Despite everything, I think there are positive things and I've been competitive against a great player, so we're going to keep that as well”, says Nadal, successful in the first services –10

aces

and a 73% yield– and penalized in the second. seconds –53% and 11 break options for the rival, who took advantage of two–.

“RETIRE ME?

I'M NOT HERE "

AC

During the intervention before the journalists, one of them hinted to Nadal that throughout the year he will be asked frequently about the withdrawal and asked him if defeats like this stimulate him or, on the contrary, begin to weigh too much on him .

The Spaniard, winner of four titles in 2022, was resounding.

“No, the moment that happens [that they become excessively harsh] it will be the day to say goodbye.

I don't need to keep playing for any specific reason;

the only reason I do it is because I really enjoy what I do, and that's how I feel about it.

And if I did not feel it, I have achieved much more than I would have imagined… ”, he replied.

“Anyway, I lost today, that's all, right?

Every time I come to a press conference it seems that I have to leave.

You are very interested in my retiring… ”, she continued smiling;

“But at the moment, that's not the case.

When the day comes, I will let you know, but do not continue with the retirement because I am here to continue playing.

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Source: elparis

All sports articles on 2022-12-31

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