A remarkable scenario where the whole audience stood up and applauded Rafael Nadal without pausing before his match even began can only be produced by a person of his stature. You may excuse the soppiness of the Madrid Open crowd. The 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has indicated that he intends to retire after the 2024 season; therefore, this will be his last match as a professional tennis player in his cherished city.
For the Spanish maestro, it was a deeply emotional moment. Nadal disclosed that he would not be participating in the French Open, where he owns a record-tying 14 titles, if it started today. Being in Madrid gave him the opportunity to say goodbye to his devoted followers and the sport that has shaped his remarkable career in a heartfelt manner.
From this vantage point, Nadal’s first-round match against American teenager Darwin Blanch appeared to be very meaningless. Blanch’s dismal ATP rating of 1,028 made things more difficult. With his tremendous forehand, Nadal moved Blanch quickly behind the baseline, where he could exploit his exposed backhand and wear him down over time. Nadal found it easy to unleash his strength on the many short balls that Blanch delivered. It should come as no surprise that Nadal overcame his 16-year-old opponent in just 63 minutes, winning 6-1, 6-0.
“Playing here has always been a huge pleasure, and the support is difficult to describe in words,” Nadal remarked afterward. “I simply relished the opportunity to venture outside once more, and my triumph allows me to return there in two days. It’s sentimental. I’m enjoying it but also concentrating on what I need to be and seeing how far I can push my physical performance because I’m a stable yet passionate person.”
Nadal downplayed the significance of his victory in terms of his chances at the French Open, even if it seemed to come easily. “I don’t only use outcomes to make decisions. When it comes to assessing my own performance, I’m a realist. I played against a player today who had potential, but he also made a lot of mistakes,” Nadal said frankly.
The next match on his demanding schedule is against Australian player Alex de Minaur, who just beat Rafael Nadal in the Barcelona Open’s second round. “I would be entirely taken aback if I managed to overcome Alex de Minaur this Saturday,” the 37-year-old Spaniard said. Nowadays, success or failure is not as important.”
Nothing about my career will change whether I win one or two more games. I’m not here in Madrid primarily focused on winning the title. The meeting on Saturday is merely a chance for me to assess where I am right now and how well I’m doing.”
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