Masters 1,000 | Nadal, 200 days later

Rafael Nadal will compete again this Wednesday 200 days later of his last game, that of the final of the Acapulco Mexican Open that he won against the American Taylor fritz and which was played on February 29, a few days before the world tennis circuit was stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic. The return of the Balearic will take place today (19:00, #Vamos), on gravel, in the second round of the 1000 Masters in Rome against a compatriot and good friend, Pablo Carreño, who comes from playing a brilliant role at the US Open.

Nadal decided not attend the American Grand Slam for their Doubts about safety and why I didn't have to defend the 2,000 points who won for his triumph in 2019, a loot that kept without playing thanks to the new compensatory ranking system that counts the best result of 18 tournaments in a period of 22 months so as not to force tennis players to participate if they do not wish to do so in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. “I don't regret it. When you decide you have to go to the end. There were two alternatives and I chose the best one for my family and for me”, said the one from Manacor at the press conference he gave in the Eternal City.

At the Internazionali d'Italia, an event that turns 77 and one of his favorites, the number two in the world (9,850) will not be able to trim to the be the current champion the difference that the leader of the ranking, Novak makes Djokovic (10,860), who can increase your account by 400 points if he succeeds in the record of his greatest rival. But Nadal has other incentives. To get started, check its status shape after four months of training and some more without playing for Roland Garros. “My shape is more or less what must be taken by not having played for six months. I have no expectations. Just getting out on the track to do the best you can and be as competitive as possible. After all, competing is not like training“he explained. Rome is one of his favorite tournaments and this year aspires to win it for the tenth time. You already own the record of trophies (9) and victories (61), and during this week he could exceed the 64 that he has in the US Open. Furthermore, with a final triumph he would undo the tie to 35 wound in Masters 1.000 than keeps with Djokovic since it was imposed, not long ago, at the Western & Southern Open.

Possible duel in the final

Rafa and Nole, than debuts around 13:00 against the italian Caruso, they would only see each other in the final, which would be the second in a row between the two at the Foro Italico. Carreño, Spanish rival, played yesterday in doubles with De Miñaur and lost to Colombians Cabal and Farah. Gijón has not given much time to adapt since he arrived last Sunday, but will be a tall opponent for Nadal, who regrets that the tournament, “always exciting, will not be the same without the public, living in the bubble and without enjoying the city“Come back to this pandemic tennis that I missed him.