Rafael Nadal, the four-time Caja Magica champion, will play in front of his home crowd in Madrid on Thursday. He will take against Darwin Blanch, a teenage American, in the opening round. Before the home Masters 1000 event, Rafael Nadal gave an explanation of his physical state and stated that he wouldn’t participate in any more competition!
Like he had every other year or two, Rafael Nadal had some highs and lows during his training camp in Madrid. Even though he was not feeling well, he was still doing his best to get ready for the official action because he knew it might be his last game in Madrid.
Due to injuries, Rafa has only participated in four events since the start of 2023, missing out on the opportunity to compete for more prestigious titles as his career came to an end. Nadal will play in his first Masters 1000 match since Paris 2022, having missed all of 2023 and the start of the current campaign.
Rafael Nadal is not fully recovered, but he is still going to compete in the Madrid Masters.
Rafa missed a year of play due to an injury to his left hip sustained at the Australian Open last year.
At the start of 2024, a 22-time Major winner made a successful comeback at the Brisbane ATP 250 event, defeating Jason Kubler and Dominic Thiem. But Nadal’s body could not withstand a marathon match in the quarterfinals versus Jordan Thompson!
After three hours and twenty-five minutes, the Spaniard lost 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, wasting match points. He felt the soreness in his hip area once more and was unable to compete in the Australian Open. In February, Nadal went back to Mallorca and started using the practice court.
Before arriving in Barcelona, he felt an ache in his stomach, found it difficult to serve, and missed Doha, Indian Wells, and Monte Carlo.
In the opening match of his cherished tournament, Rafa triumphed over the youthful Italian Flavio Cobolli in straight sets.
In his first encounter in a hundred days, Rafael Nadal triumphed over his youthful opponent and set up a showdown against Alex de Minaur with a strong serve and return. In the opening set, the veteran held off the Australian, coming back from a break down to have a chance to lead.
But he was unable to accomplish that, and in the latter moments of the match, he lost the set 7–5 and was helpless in the second. Rafa expressed his ambition for a better run in Madrid after acknowledging he could not play three sets at a good level.The Spaniard is remains far from optimal form, though, as he struggles with health concerns and doesn’t appear well before his beloved Roland Garros. “Although I’m not 100%, it’s crucial that I compete in Madrid one last time. I’m excited to perform at Caja Magica once more because I think this will be my final competition here. Rafael Nadal declared, “I will go in and start my first-round play despite the problems.
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