"I trust and hope to be able to return, at no time do I intend for it to seem like a farewell" - Rafael Nadal on whether this is his last French Open
Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal is on the verge of reaching yet another French Open final. He will face Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on Friday. Turning 36 on the day of the last-four clash against the German, Nadal has no illusions about his ability to play for several more years.
Speaking in an interview with RTVE, the 21-time Grand Slam champion said he came to Roland Garros this year with a recurring foot injury but has seemingly been unbothered by it thus far.
Nadal said he hopes to return to the French Open in the coming years, but stressed that he would first have to find a way to treat his foot problem.
"I've always had things clear. Accept things as they come. At no point do I intend it to seem like a farewell. What happens is that there is a reality that today is what is, and what can happen ... We will continue to work to find solutions to what is happening below. I trust and hope to be able to return," Nadal said.
Rafael Nadal also spoke about how the last three months have been extremely taxing on his body. The Spaniard suffered a rib injury earlier in the year and missed the early part of the claycourt season. Upon returning, the Spaniard suffered another setback, aggravating his chronic foot injury in Rome.
"What happens is that there is a year left and it is clear that these last months, no longer these last three, I would say that since last year they are being difficult," Nadal continued.
@RafaelNadal, en @rtve
"ConfÃo y espero volver a @rolandgarros , pero falta un año y el dÃa a dÃa está siendo difÃcil"
"No tengo la intención de que parezca una despedida, pero hay una realidad que a dÃa de hoy es la que es"
#PartidazoCOPE cope.es/deportes/tenis…🎾 @RafaelNadal, en @rtve
👀 "ConfÃo y espero volver a @rolandgarros , pero falta un año y el dÃa a dÃa está siendo difÃcil"
😰 "No tengo la intención de que parezca una despedida, pero hay una realidad que a dÃa de hoy es la que es"
📻 #PartidazoCOPE cope.es/deportes/tenis…
"The day to day with everything that entails is being difficult" - Rafael Nadal on the difficulty of dealing with his foot injury
Rafael Nadal further elaborated on the brutal reality of his situation. The Spaniard said dealing with the injury every day has made his life complicated.
"The day to day with everything that entails is being difficult, not because of the effort that it supposes me, but also to maintain competitiveness, which in the end I play to be competitive, which is what really makes me happy. We will enjoy the moment and after here we will continue thinking about the things that need to be improved. and the illusion is to continue," Nadal said.
🤩 What a set! What a comeback! 🤩
🤔 Is 14 next for @RafaelNadal ?
#RolandGarros https://t.co/0Wa4mjZoau