BATTERED BODY NO HURDLE
Nadal reveals how he overcame pain in his injured foot on way to a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros on Sunday
PARIS: French Open champion Rafael Nadal will play at Wimbledon later this month if his body allows him to, the Spaniard said on Sunday after winning Roland Garros for a record-extending 14th time.
“I am going to be in Wimbledon if my body is ready to be in Wimbledon. Wimbledon is not a tournament that I want to miss,” said Nadal, who has been suffering from a chronic foot injury.
Nadal, a double Wimbledon champion, destroyed Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to stay undefeated in Roland Garros finals.
The 36-year-old, who has won the season’s first two majors, now owns a men’s record 22 Grand Slam singles titles - two more than nearest rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Wimbledon starts on June 27. Nadal explained that he had played Sunday’s final with a numbed foot thanks to a series of injections throughout the tournament, but that he would not go through a similar procedure again for the grass-court Grand Slam.
“Wimbledon is a priority, always has been a priority. If I’m able to play with anti-inflammatories yes,” Nadal said.
“To play with anaesthetic injections, I do not want to put myself in that position again. It can happen once but no it’s not the philosophy of life I want to follow.
“Let’s see. I am always a positive guy and always expect the things are going the right way. Let’s be confident, let’s be positive and let’s see what’s going on.”
At the final in January’s Australian Open, Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday, came from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev and bag a second title there.
A couple of months earlier he was even considering retiring after a foot problem that has troubled him throughout his career resurfaced, forcing him to miss much of the 2021 season including Wimbledon, the Olympics and the U.S. Open.
He arrived in Paris with his own doctor to get through the tournament despite the injury.
Giving details on what comes next for him, he said: “It’s going to be a radio frequency injection on the nerve and trying to burn a little bit the nerve and create the impact that I have now on the nerve for a long period of time.
“That’s what we are going to try. If that works, I’m going to keep going. If that does not work, then it’s going to be another story. And then I am going to ask myself if I am ready to do a major thing without being sure that things are going the proper way, for example.
“A major surgery that doesn’t guarantee me to be able to be competitive again and take a long time to be back (is a risk). So let’s do it step by step, as I did all my tennis career.”
At age 36, Nadal became the oldest champion in the history of a clay-court tournament that was first held in 1925.
He allowed a little insight into what does make him tick.
It’s not, he said, as he’s said before, an all-consuming desire to finish with more major trophies than the other members of the so-called Big Three of men’s tennis, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. (Nadal currently stands two ahead of his rivals, who both are at 20.) “It’s not about being the best of the history. It’s not about the records. It’s about: I like what I do. I like to play tennis. And I like the competition,” Nadal said.
“What drives me to keep going is the passion for the game, to live moments that stay inside me forever,” he added, “and play in front of the best crowds in the world and the best stadiums.”
“Of course, my tennis career has been a priority during all of my life, but never has been a priority over my happiness (in) life. So things are going to keep going that way,” he said. “If I am still able to be happy playing tennis with the things that I have, I’m going to keep going. If I am not able, I’m going to do other stuff.” Either way, Nadal’s place in the history of tennis — and, indeed, the history of sports — is solidified.
Because of all of the way he has lorded over the French Open and red clay, yes. And, sure, because of the career Grand Slam he owns and, for now at least, the lead in the men’s major trophy count. Don’t forget the Olympic medals and the time spent at No. 1 in the rankings, either. But it’s not just all of the numbers. There’s also this: Nadal never seems to take a point off, never seems to let an on-court situation daunt him, never gives in or gives up.
“He stepped up, and he showed that when he needs to, he plays great,” said Ruud, who appeared to be every bit as overwhelmed by the situation and setting as by his opponent.
“He’s a player I have watched on TV for the last 16, 17 years. So to be there myself and face him, it’s a bit of a challenge,” he said.