The lack of ceremonies that accompanied his exit from the camp made a lot of noise Rafael Nadal after the defeats suffered in Rome and Paris respectively against Hubert Hurkacz And Alexander Zverev. Everyone expected a special Madrid-style tribute, especially considering that it may have been the Spanish champion’s last time in two of the tournaments that made him a legend.
The Majorcan then explained that he is not 100% sure he will say goodbye to tennis at the end of this season. In an interview given to the newspaper L’Équipe, the Spaniard revealed a curious background on the latest edition of Roland Garros: he had in fact initially accepted the ceremony in case he lost to Zverev, but then changed his mind at the last minute minute.
Rafael Nadal: “No ceremony in Paris? I said yes, but then I realized I didn’t want to”
“At first I said yes, but at the last minute I realized that I didn’t want to. It would have hurt me to announce that it would be my last time in this tournament knowing that I didn’t have the opportunity to prepare as I would have liked.
Nothing stops the tournament from waiting another year. If the tribute takes place when I have already retired, I will participate as a retired player. Before starting Roland Garros I wasn’t sure of anything,” Nadal said on the matter.
“Zverev? After seeing the draw I didn’t think it was an impossible mission, but I knew it would be tough. I arrived with several doubts due to the disastrous defeat in Rome. At the same time, I still arrived more prepared.
Everything, however, went differently: the draw, the indoor playing conditions and I faced a great player who then reached the final. I wasn’t able to take advantage of the opportunities that could have changed the game.
Naturally the emotion was immense, as always it is very difficult to describe the emotions I feel when I enter that field. Sport is above all about results, but I gave importance to other things and it was a week in which I had a lot of fun.
I enjoyed every moment. I arrived too late in the form I already wanted to reach before the start of the Monte Carlo tournament. In that case, I could have dreamed of doing something different. But that’s not what happened.”
