‘It’s time to accept the situation and fight,’ An ailing Rafael Nadal very vulnerable ahead of the French Open
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Rafael Nadal
It was hard to watch Rafael Nadal struggle physically on the Roman clay on Thursday against Denis Shapovalov given the fact that he was previously won 10 titles at Foro Italico. The 35-year-old lost the match in three sets 1-6,7-5,6-2 which meant that for the first time in his career, Nadal will go into Roland Garros without a Masters Final on Clay.
Nadal looked well in control of the proceedings at the start and stormed away with the first set 6-1. He looked reliable in the second set too until his left foot started to hurt. Nadal was returning from a left foot injury that has affected him throughout his career. He said earlier in Madrid that he is still not at his 100% fitness and it was clearly visible in Rome against Shapovalov.
In the press conference, Nadal confirmed that it was his foot that was troubling him. He said that he can’t do anything and that it’s time to accept what it is and fight. He was uncertain about what he’ll do before the French Open but hopes to stay positive until days like today happen where he’s left helpless.
“It’s the time to accept the situation and fight. That’s it… I don’t know if rest, I don’t know if maybe practice. In the positive days and in the negative days, you need to stay and value all the things that happened to me in a positive way. Then days like today, just accept and try to keep going even if sometimes it’s not easy for me,” Nadal said.
Also Read: “Happy to turn it around,” Denis Shapovalov stuns a struggling Rafael Nadal on clay
‘I am a player living with an injury; it is nothing new’: Rafael Nadal
He revealed that despite being a player who has lived with pain, there was lots of it towards the end of the second set. “I had my foot again with a lot of pain,” Nadal said. “I am a player living with an injury; it is nothing new. It’s something that is there.”
A helpless Nadal further said that with each passing day, it is getting difficult for him to accept the situation and at times it seems unplayable for him.
“Unfortunately my day-by-day is difficult, honestly… it’s difficult for me to accept the situation sometimes. Today at half the second set, it starts, and then it wasn’t playable for me… I don’t want to take away anything from Denis… Today is for him. Well done for him,” he said.
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Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)