RAFAEL NADAL MAKES ‘FEAR’ REVELATION AS HE ASSERTS HE WILL RISK PUSHING HIS BODY ‘TO THE LIMIT’
Rafael Nadal proclaimed that the moment has arrived to find out whether he can push his body “to the limit” after his opening round Italian Open win.
The great Spaniard admitted he had to “lose fear” about his physical condition and revealed he has accepted the risk that something could go wrong.
Nadal fought past world No 108 Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a challenging first outing at the 2024 edition of the historic tournament he has won a record 10 times.
The 37-year-old will face No 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz in the second round in Rome as he looks to extend what could be his final run at the Foro Italico.
The 22-time Major champion, who has been plagued by injury issues in recent seasons, has divulged 2024 will likely be the last year of his incredible career.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal delivers ‘unpredictable’ verdict after surviving big Italian Open scare
In his press conference after beating Bergs, Nadal expressed his intention to fully push himself to see what his body is capable of — starting in his next match.
“I did this progress the last three weeks on the tour. But arrive the moment that I need to try, I need to go for everything. If something happens, something happens. That’s the truth,” said the former world No 1.
“Is not like in Madrid, is not like in Barcelona, especially that I need to analyse how the things are improving, to explore if I am able to adapt all these things to the new weeks. But that’s over and we are in Rome.
“I have Roland Garros in just two weeks and a half, so… Arrive a moment that I need to prove myself if I am able to push my body to the limit that I need to push to feel myself ready for what’s coming.
“I am not talking only about Roland Garros. I am talking about the next match. I need to lose this fear. Matches like today help. Some moments I was moving faster. Some moments not. I need to get used to that, to take that risk.
“It’s a moment to me that happen. If something wrong happens, we going to accept it. But that’s the moment to push. I feel more ready to try it than before.”
The 14-time French Open winner also analysed how much progress he has made since making his return to action at the Barcelona Open last month.
“Well, today was not a good match for me. I mean, I didn’t play the way that I really think I can play and I need to play,” Nadal assessed.
“I was able to find a way to win, and that give me the chance to play in two days again, to show myself, especially that I can do it much better than today. That’s the feeling I have on my practice sessions.
“Of course, improvement, it’s important because the biggest improvement is that I still playing. That’s the biggest thing and the most important thing for me.
“In Barcelona, I was not sure if I was able to keep going. I am serving much better than in Barcelona. I improved that. I feel myself quicker. Sometimes I am playing too far from the baseline. That’s something that I want to do it better, and I hope to do it better.
“That’s it. I really believe that I need to organise my position a little bit better on the court than what I did today. For me, the first set in the last match of Madrid is a good reference the way I need to play. Here is a little bit easier for me because is not altitude.
“For me, that’s a good example the way that I need to play. I think – not in Barcelona – but today I can do it.”
2024-05-09T18:47:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd
