Rafael Nadal\u2019s feet are very much on solid ground at the Mutua Madrid Open. On Wednesday, the Balearic Islander was at the Caja M\u00e1gica, where he will compete for the last time in front of the fans in the Spanish capital. The five-time champion of the event gave a frank press conference in the build-up to a competition that will mark the end of his long history with the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited about it. Playing in Madrid has been amazing. It\u2019s difficult to say that anywhere else in the world gives me the support I get here. I can\u2019t wait to play here again\u201d, explained the former world No. 1, who will open his campaign on Thursday against the American Darwin Blanch. \u201cThe week has been good in some ways and not so good in others. I don\u2019t think I\u2019m 100% ready to play. I\u2019m ready to go out and play tomorrow and that\u2019s important to me. Being able to play in Madrid for the last time means a lot. At least I\u2019ll be able to enjoy the court where I\u2019ve had so many amazing moments again\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Mallorcan is approaching the tournament with no expectations, making the most of his final opportunity to connect with the fans that have buoyed him throughout his career. \u201cI\u2019m not aspiring to anything more than going out, playing, having fun and enjoying the feeling of playing in a place where I think the affection I\u2019ve received is unbeatable. Then, if they want to do something they will. I promise you I\u2019m relaxed about it. Nobody has to prove anything. They\u2019ve shown me enough throughout my career, that\u2019s the important thing for me\u201d.<\/p>\n
After his return to competition on the clay of Barcelona last week, the Spaniard is taking another step in his efforts to complete the clay swing. Despite not feeling his best, Nadal admitted he is keen to make an extra effort at an event that has a special place in his heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult right now to say what\u2019s ideal. The ideal thing would be to be able to play without limitations, whatever happens\u201d, he explained. \u201cIf I could play without limitations that would be more positive for me. It\u2019s difficult because I haven\u2019t felt perfect this week. With my mentality I think tomorrow I wouldn\u2019t go out and play. But this is Madrid and, as I\u2019ve said, there are a lot of emotional things to consider, which is why I\u2019ve decided to go out and play for completely personal reasons. That doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ve written anything off in the coming weeks, but the process isn\u2019t a straight upward line. I don\u2019t know what will happen. I\u2019m going to give it a go without trying to confuse anyone. I don\u2019t know what will happen in the next three weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n
With the challenge of the French Open looming, an event he will only consider if he feels he is fit enough to compete, Nadal is pushing himself in the Caja M\u00e1gica in order to do what he always has done; put himself on the line so that he can fight to achieve his goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy objective has always been to go out on court with the peace of mind of having done everything possible so that things go well. Winning and losing is part of our daily lives. In my career there are few occasions when I\u2019ve returned home with the feeling that I haven\u2019t done everything possible for things to go well. Nowadays, simply, I cannot. In another situation in my career, I probably wouldn\u2019t be playing, but I have to give it a shot. Time isn\u2019t infinite anymore. I do things that we all think I have to do to see if there is a way forward. What has to happen will happen and I\u2019ll try and do everything in my power every day\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nadal\u2019s connection with the fans of Madrid has always been special. The Balearic Islander wanted to highlight how grateful he is for all the things he has experienced in the Spanish capital. From his first memories in Casa de Campo to the recent affection in the Caja M\u00e1gica. Speaking with an open heart, the five-time champion was full of praise for the spectators who are so excited to see him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what they\u2019ve given me throughout my whole career and tomorrow I\u2019m sure that it won\u2019t be any different\u201d, explained Nadal. \u201cThe support here has been unconditional, I\u2019ve felt incredibly well supported and loved. I say that honestly, not because I\u2019m here in Madrid. I\u2019ve played here in Davis Cups, I\u2019ve played the tournament about 20 times, starting on the indoor court. Winning that final, coming back from two sets down, I could never have done that without the fans. It\u2019s a story of pure affection and support. I\u2019ve been lucky to be treated so well by everyone. It\u2019s special here. Quite simply, I know what will happen and I\u2019m looking forward to experiencing it”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rafael Nadal\u2019s feet are very much on solid ground at the Mutua Madrid Open. On Wednesday, the Balearic Islander was at the Caja M\u00e1gica, where he will compete for the last time in front of the fans in the Spanish capital. The five-time champion of the event gave a frank press conference in the build-up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":93217,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[838,824],"tags":[1026,831,852],"class_list":["post-93225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-noticias-tenis-masculino-en","category-noticias-mutua-en","tag-2024-en","tag-mutua-madrid-open-en-2","tag-rafael-nadal-en-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93225"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93226,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93225\/revisions\/93226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mutuamadridopen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}