Rafael Nadal admits every tournament could be his last due to injuries
- Planet Sport writer
- 1 June 2022
Rafael Nadal may be producing some of his best tennis at Roland Garros, but a chronic foot injury means the king of clay cannot look beyond this year’s French Open.
Nadal beat world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, in a late-night classic on Tuesday.
The Spaniard won in four sets and displayed the performance of someone who looked like 26 rather than Nadal's real age - 36.
Nadal - who faces Alexander Zverev on Friday in the semi-finals - has readily admitted all fortnight that his injury issues mean that every tournament could be his last.
"Yes, I can't say another thing, no? I am very clear about that, no?" said the Spaniard, a 13-time winner in Paris.
"I'm going to be playing this tournament because we are doing the things to be ready to play this tournament, but I don't know what's going to happen after here.
"I mean, I have what I have there in the foot, so if we are not able to find an improvement or a small solution on that, then it's becoming super difficult for me. So that's it.
"I am just enjoying every day that I have the chance to be here, and without thinking much about what can happen in the future.
"Of course I'm going to keep fighting to find a solution for that, but for the moment we haven't. So just to give myself a chance to play another semi-final here in Roland Garros (provides) a lot of energy for me."
Nadal looked a shadow of the player who sent Djokovic packing 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (4) when, just three weeks ago in Rome, he limped through a defeat to Denis Shapovalov.
But Nadal and his doctor are managing the injury in a bid to nurse him towards a 14th title.
He added: "I said in Rome I'm going toRa have my doctor here with me. Having the doctor here you can do things that help, no?
"So it's not the moment to talk about that. I said that we are going to talk about that after the tournament, when my tournament finishes.
"But, yeah, I am putting everything that I have to try to play this tournament (in) the best condition possible. I don't know what can happen after, honestly, but here I think I'm going to be fine."
