Rafael Nadal has declared that if he will not bet fit to play in a best of five set matches at the French Open he will simply choose not to compete.
Addressing a downbeat press conference in Madrid, the 22-time Grand Slam champion also conceded that he will likely be registering his farewell appearance at the Madrid Open amid ongoing physical troubles.
Nadal has already confirmed his participation at the Laver Cup in September and he is also scheduled to appear in a star-stacked exhibition event in Saudi Arabia in October. However, his latest gloomy assessment of his Roland Garros chances suggest the Spaniard may be losing faith in his ability to compete on the Parisian clay next month.
“If I arrive in Paris like I feel today, I would not go on court. I will not play,” said Nadal.
“I will play Roland Garros if I feel competitive. If I can play, I play. If I can’t play, I can’t.”
The former World No. 1 was asked if he is enjoying his final few months on court and he admitted the emotions are mixed as things are not in his full control.
“There are moments playing on court when I am enjoying it and feeling competitive,” he continued. “It is not the word ‘enjoy’ all the time. Then at other moments, I feel limitations and that is difficult.
“I love to be here (in Madrid) and I am trying to have my best result possible, but I can’t say that now.
“Tomorrow I am going to be on court and a few weeks ago I didn’t know if I could play on the professional tour again.
“I’m able to enjoy the fact that I can play tournaments that are emotional for me and that I can say goodbye on court.
“The goal is to be on court and enjoy for as long as possible. Try to finish the tournament alive in terms of body issues and enjoy the fact that I will be able to compete one more time in the professional tour in Madrid.
“In sport, things can change very quickly. If I am not there to try, the change will not happen. I’m here giving myself a chance and if my situation improves, I need to be ready.
“I will not be ready if I am at home. I don’t lose hope, accept the situation I have today, but that does not mean that in a few weeks, it can’t be different.
“I’m going to keep trying to give myself the possibility and to see if that change happens.
“I have been through a lot of things in the last two years, so the body is not feeling good. I’m not feeling free enough due to body issues and that is not allowing me to compete the way I want to compete. That’s all I can say.”
It is clear that the 14-time Roland Garros champion is not feeling confident because of the physical setbacks he is having as a 37-year-old veteran on the tour and it is a matter of time when he finally hangs his racquet to give his body a break.