Nadal: "I'm at a different point in my career. I'm just trying to enjoy every moment".
Rafael Nadal makes his return to competition this Tuesday in Barcelona. He will face Flavio Cobolli in the first round (not before 4pm) on the Pista Rafa Nadal. A long-awaited return for the Spaniard, who will be making the most of the moment, as he explained in a press conference. The former world No. 1 is fully aware that this is one of his last opportunities to do so.
Rafael Nadal: "After I won the French Open in 2022, I didn't know when I'd be able to play on a clay court again without pain (necrosis of the scaphoid bone in his left foot). I'd played the tournament with a lot of problems and difficulties (he'd had anaesthetic injections into his foot before every match to cope with the pain). But that's part of life. I didn't know how long it would be before I could play on clay again.
I was just enjoying my title (his 14th at Roland Garros) and trying to get ready for the next tournament. And that's what I've done all my life. Try to think about what's going on day by day. Try to adapt to situations. And try to be able to improve whatever the circumstances, to be a better player. That's what I've done all my life, and it's worked.
Now the perspective on my tennis career is different. It's a different dynamic. And I'm just trying to enjoy every moment. I haven't been able to spend many days on the ATP Tour over the last two years. So I'm just trying to enjoy every day that I'm able to play with the guys, and at a professional level.... It means a lot to me."
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