Rafael Nadal is determined to keep playing until he feels it is not worth going as he is about to enter 2024 Barcelona Open.
The 37-year-old confessed that he gets tired of talking about his hardships as he explained why he remained silent over his abdominal injury until the early April.
Nadal on Tuesday will appear his first match since January – when he return to tour at Brisbane International after a year-long hiatus – at the Barcelona Open where he a 12-time champion.
In an interview at the Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca on April 6, Nadal opened his lips about the abdominal tear which didn’t’ allow him to play since Australian Open.
“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.”
Ahead of his comeback in Barcelona, Nadal in the pre-tournament presser was asked why he remained tightlipped about his abdominal issues 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 former World No. 1 also revealed whether he feels his return could have an impact on 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,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion 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 face Italian youngster and ATP #62 Flavio Cobolli in the R64 at home in Barcelona.