Nadal: “I take Godó as a new opportunity”

Behind the loss in Monte Carlo last week in the quarterfinals to Andrey Rublev, an elimination “that is already past”, Rafa Nadal has all five senses set to perform at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. And it is that despite being a tournament that he has won eleven times, in the previous one of his debut at no time did he speak of revalidating the title. That is obviously Nadal's ultimate goal in Barcelona, ​​but along the way he has many other goals to achieve: “You have to recover well, train with the attitude and the desire necessary to have the best possible sensations. I have been competing little this last year and the return to the circuit is always difficult. Monte Carlo was an important test, there were positive and negative things, and here is another. That's how I take it, “Nadal summed up.

And, as he himself acknowledged, at almost 35 years old the situation “is no longer the same.” With Roland Garros on the horizon (starts on May 30), his goal is also to prepare for the French event. “My goal is to put myself in a position to compete for Roland Garros”, was the verbatim phrase. He was also pleased that Roger Federer is also participating in the Parisian tournament.

But Godó, obviously, is not just any tournament for Rafa. Not only because of his record, but because he has played in what has been his club since he was 14 years old. And not only that. There will be public: “It's always nice to play in Barcelona. I think there will be an audience and that for me is very important. I hope to be able to perform at a good level.” The first test will be this Wednesday against the Belarusian Ilya Ivashka (111th) who the Manacor man does not trust: “I play against an opponent, who has been doing well, winning matches. In Marbella he did well. I will need to be at a good level. to beat him. “