Rafael Nadal makes statement about ‘dying’ at the French Open after Barcelona farewell

Ewan West
Rafael Nadal waves Barcelona Open 2024
Rafael Nadal waves to the Barcelona Open crowd

Rafael Nadal expressed his willingness to “leave everything and die” at this year’s French Open after his defeat to Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open. 

The 22-time major champion declared he was leaving Barcelona “convinced that I have taken a step forward” and outlined his intention to improve in both Madrid and Rome before Roland Garros.

Nadal fell to a convincing 5-7, 1-6 loss to de Minaur, the world No 11, in the second round of the 2024 Barcelona Open on Wednesday.

The tennis legend, who has revealed this will likely be his final season on tour, received an emotional send-off at the ATP 500 tournament he has won 12 times.

The Spaniard downed Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round in Barcelona on Tuesday in his first match since January, where he had returned from almost a year out out of action.

Prior to this week, Nadal, who has been plagued by various injuries in recent years, had not played a match on clay since winning the 2022 French Open final 681 days before beating Cobolli.

READ MORE: Reality bites for Rafael Nadal as he handed a heavy defeat on the Barcelona clay

The 37-year-old is next hoping to feature at the Madrid Open, which will start on April 23. The former world No 1 is then expected to play at the Italian Open in Rome, before what could be his final appearance at the French Open, where he is a 14-time champion.

Speaking in his press conference after his loss to de Minaur, Nadal highlighted the fact he could not leave everything on the court in Barcelona as he hopes to do this in Paris next month.

“I am leaving convinced that I have taken a step forward, it was not today where I had to be well, where I had to leave everything and die. I have to give myself the option to do this in a few weeks, at least try,” the Mallorcan explained.

“If I had died at a general level today, I would never have the opportunity to do so in a few weeks, so I have to play according to the objective I have. I have to measure according to how I feel, so I will play in Madrid according to this factor.

“If my body responds and I accumulate good training, I will be able to take a step forward in Madrid. If my body is capable of assimilating the loads progressively, that must help me to demand more and more from it, but I don’t know.

“On a logical level, the idea is to progress, but I’m not talking about winning games, but rather at the level of fighting for things. In Madrid go a little better, in Rome a little more… and in Paris let it be whatever God wants. Now is the time to try.”

READ MORE: ‘It’s getting closer to the end for Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’, says ATP rival

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