Nadal: ‘I was close to doing something big’

“It wasn’t to be, but I was close to having a real chance of doing something big. That’s how I feel.”

One sentence from Rafael Nadal provides huge insight into what was going through the Spaniard’s mind during the days leading up to Roland Garros: the quality of his practice sessions, as well as a lack of physical ailments for the first time in many months led the Mallorcan to believe in his chances of winning another Coupe des Mousquetaires.

“I was ready to take steps forward by winning several matches,” explained the 22-time major champion after losing to Alexander Zverev on Monday.

“It’s something I haven’t felt at any other tournament, and here I did,” he added, referring to his recent outings in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.

“I played a good match, taking into account how I arrived. At times I played well, really well. In other moments I made mistakes, but you can’t build a house in two days. Even though I played in previous tournaments, I had a week here practising without limits. That’s the reality, only the week before Roland Garros.”

Nadal was progressing in practice leading up to his 19th appearance at the tournament he has dominated for two decades. But luck drew no favours for the 37-year-old as a result of playing with a protected ranking and being unseeded. Nadal would face fourth seed Zverev in his opener.

Although Nadal took it as a challenge, doubling down on his motivation and desire, in reality, he had a mountain to climb. Playing his opener against the German, the recent champion in Rome, was too soon.

“I managed to play without limitations, I fought and I had real chances of taking the match to a completely different situation against one of the best players in the world,” said Nadal. “Two things prevented me from doing it— he is very good, and I needed more [matches] to play with instinct in all those moments and to get the confidence to understand what I had to do in those key points.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve done that.”

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Nadal explained that despite the loss, he is pleased with the physical progress he has made this clay-court swing.

“The last few months have been very intense in every regard. I’m proud of everything I’ve been through to get here. I’ve always had the help of everyone, every day: family, my team, friends… It would have been impossible without them,” he said.

“There were a lot of lows, genuine lows, and many months with no light at the end of the tunnel. I stayed disciplined, but always hopeful, going every day to train and do things as well as I could to have a chance of making it here. And in the end I did it.

“I’m going to take a few days and I’ll see how I feel. In my head, I’ll play the Olympics and then we’ll see.”

Nadal maintains the hope that he can play the 2024 Olympic Games at Roland Garros, where he could represent his country for the final time in his illustrious career.

“I’m confident I’ll be well prepared when I get there, but at the Olympic Games I’ll be in the same situation I’m in now. I could face anyone in the first round,” said Nadal. “It’s a completely different situation to what I’ve had for the rest of my career, regardless of any problems I may have had. If I arrive fit and well — hopefully a little better than today, and feeling that I’ve had a month and a half more of practice and confidence — I’ll come here and enjoy the Olympics. Who knows what might happen afterwards.”