Rafael Nadal shares revelation about hoping to ‘keep going’ as he makes a sad admission
Rafael Nadal declared he will keep playing until he feels like “it’s not worth it to keep doing the things I do” ahead of his comeback at the 2024 Barcelona Open.
The tennis legend also admitted he gets “tired of telling my hardships” as he explained why he did not speak about his abdominal injury until earlier this month.
Nadal will play his first match since January — where he made his comeback in Brisbane after almost a year out — at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.
In an interview at the Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca on April 6, Nadal revealed abdominal issues were the reason he had not been able to play since Australia.
“On a personal level everything is good; on a professional level, it is difficult, and you also have to weigh the bad moments and those that you would never have imagined experiencing,” the Spaniard told Movistar.
“Many people have mental problems, and I also have them when in my work I can’t manage to fight for my goals, but, no, it’s physical, I have abdominal problems since I returned from Australia. We are trying things. We are going day by day.”
Speaking in his press conference in Barcelona before his latest comeback, Nadal was asked why he did not disclose he had been suffering from the abdominal injury earlier.
“I take things as they can. We know what there is. You don’t have to hide anything. Why talk more about it? I didn’t feel like talking about the abdominals (translated from Spanish),” said the 37-year-old.
“I said it in the [Copa del Rey] final in Seville because my uncle (Toni Nadal) commented on it. In my statement, I said I couldn’t play. I also didn’t feel like saying where I had a problem. I get tired of telling my hardships.
“On a mental level, these things end up affecting us. I know it can happen (that it could get worse), but we’ll keep going until I feel like it’s not worth it to keep doing the things I do. I don’t set a deadline, but life shows you the path.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion also addressed whether he was concerned about how his return to competitive action could affect his physical problems.
“My feelings in training have been better than those I had in Mallorca. My body sensations have also been better and I feel ready to compete. Then we’ll see what happens,” Nadal continued.
“I haven’t been able to practice service much. I will try to take on the burdens progressively. There is uncertainty, but it is what it is. You have to live with it.
“Within all of this, you have to be able to see things positively and be able to enjoy competing again, being in a tennis tournament, and here I am. What may or may not happen is less important to me.”
Nadal will take on world No 62 Flavio Cobolli in the opening round of the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona.
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