Rafael Nadal targeting Madrid Open return from injury as uncle Toni confirms Spaniard ‘intends to play’

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Toni Nadal said his nephew intends to play the Madrid Open, which starts on May 2. Rafael Nadal suffered the rib injury during Indian Wells, where he lost the final to Taylor Fritz, but returned to the practice courts on Monday after a four-week layoff. Nadal is chasing a 14th French Open at Roland Garros, and will hope an appearance at Madrid can boost his chances of a 22nd Grand Slam title.

 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
G2HG.gif
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
It appears that Rafa is motivated both to become #1 and to secure the Year End #1. No other reason to play this.
 
D

Deleted member 788697

Guest
It appears that Rafa is motivated both to become #1 and to secure the Year End #1. No other reason to play this.
Madrid is the most important masters event on the tennis calendar, because Nadal loves playing in front of Spain's fans and feels obligated.
On top of that, he didn't play Barcelona, which makes Madrid more important than ever before.
Even if there was no ranking system, Madrid would still be the most important masters event of the year for Nadal.
 

T23

Semi-Pro
Hear me out : I really should not say this but I think Rafa should get very small injury (that takes like 2weeks to heal and as much painless as possible to heal - i really love Rafa as a person and don’t want him to suffer at all ) - because it’s my understanding- Rafa’s mental way of handling things is just to play more and more - that may have worked in the past but he is 35 soon to be 36 now, since he keeps gassing himself out before slams, I cannot but pray for small injuries at small intervals so that he is forced to take the breaks, i don’t want him to play entire HC season after wimby then sit out 8months again missing 2023 aussie and french, i want him to play RG - WIN RG, play Wimby - WIN Wimby then twist ankle or something and just play 1hc before USO, you mark my words if he plays only 1 hc master before USO - that calender slam is his.

You guys don’t like me wishing that ? Sure, convince Rafa’s team to skip hc season after wimby, play less but win more.

Honestly he should skip madrid, total different conditions than RG, it is more of a hindrance to his RG path than helping him. At this age he should just show up at RG in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025… if he skips the in betweens he can go till like 2027. Call it quits at 20RG and not become like Fed pushing offbrand shoes in the name of come backs, Rafa don’t need that - go yachting, if murray can unfairly get wild cards after wild cards, Rafa should get wild cards into RG and first round bye until he is 50.
 
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D

Deleted member 788697

Guest
Nadal would never forgive himself if he skipped Madrid.
He's one of the most patriotic people, and skipping Madrid when he's healthy, would be like selling his soul to the devil.
He's already missed Barcelona, so skipping Madrid would create so much guilt he'd potentially end up being distracted and lose Rome and Roland Garros.
Playing Madrid is the only sane thing to do.
 
D

Deleted member 788697

Guest
Nadal played 2019 AO when he was very under-prepared (he'd had ankle surgery and was not allowed to practice defense/retrieving during all of January), and was forced to finish the points quickly (which worked very well against a nervous Tsitsipas and 5 other opponents).
Madrid means a lot more to him than the AO probably, because there is nothing better than playing in front of Spanish fans, so he'll definitely play Madrid whether he's ready or not.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Hear me out : I really should not say this but I think Rafa should get very small injury (that takes like 2weeks to heal and as much painless as possible to heal - i really love Rafa as a person and don’t want him to suffer at all ) - because it’s my understanding- Rafa’s mental way of handling things is just to play more and more - that may have worked in the past but he is 35 soon to be 36 now, since he keeps gassing himself out before slams, I cannot but pray for small injuries at small intervals so that he is forced to take the breaks, i don’t want him to play entire HC season after wimby then sit out 8months again missing 2023 aussie and french, i want him to play RG - WIN RG, play Wimby - WIN Wimby then twist ankle or something and just play 1hc before USO, you mark my words if he plays only 1 hc master before USO - that calender slam is his.

You guys don’t like me wishing that ? Sure, convince Rafa’s team to skip hc season after wimby, play less but win more.

Honestly he should skip madrid, total different conditions than RG, it is more of a hindrance to his RG path than helping him. At this age he should just show up at RG in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025… if he skips the in betweens he can go till like 2027. Call it quits at 20RG and not become like Fed pushing offbrand shoes in the name of come backs, Rafa don’t need that - go yachting, if murray can unfairly get wild cards after wild cards, Rafa should get wild cards into RG and first round bye until he is 50.
Do you mean he should skip the USO as well?
I just think that whatever Rafa’s fans think we can’t influence what he does so, on that front, I don’t waste time on a wish list as far as his calendar goes.
 

beard

Legend
On topic... Is anyone really surprised Nadal healed? I mean, he would be ready for FO even if he had open heart surgery month before tournament starts... Lol...
 
D

Deleted member 788697

Guest
On topic... Is anyone really surprised Nadal healed? I mean, he would be ready for FO even if he had open heart surgery month before tournament starts... Lol...
Plus his doctor said it'd take 4 to 6 weeks. And that was 4 weeks ago....
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
Hear me out : I really should not say this but I think Rafa should get very small injury (that takes like 2weeks to heal and as much painless as possible to heal - i really love Rafa as a person and don’t want him to suffer at all ) - because it’s my understanding- Rafa’s mental way of handling things is just to play more and more - that may have worked in the past but he is 35 soon to be 36 now, since he keeps gassing himself out before slams, I cannot but pray for small injuries at small intervals so that he is forced to take the breaks, i don’t want him to play entire HC season after wimby then sit out 8months again missing 2023 aussie and french, i want him to play RG - WIN RG, play Wimby - WIN Wimby then twist ankle or something and just play 1hc before USO, you mark my words if he plays only 1 hc master before USO - that calender slam is his.

You guys don’t like me wishing that ? Sure, convince Rafa’s team to skip hc season after wimby, play less but win more.

Honestly he should skip madrid, total different conditions than RG, it is more of a hindrance to his RG path than helping him. At this age he should just show up at RG in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025… if he skips the in betweens he can go till like 2027. Call it quits at 20RG and not become like Fed pushing offbrand shoes in the name of come backs, Rafa don’t need that - go yachting, if murray can unfairly get wild cards after wild cards, Rafa should get wild cards into RG and first round bye until he is 50.
Excellent post. 100% agree. Nadal is a FREIGHT TRAIN that doesn't understand the STOP button.
He OVERPLAYS, gets injured and sits out.
If he is lucky, the injury happens before slams, and gives him chances to COMPETE in slams. If he is unlucky, he withdraws/retires from slams.
It's been happening for 17+ years now.
No wonder, among the big 3, Nadal has the LEAST slam appearances, MOST RETIREMENTS and INJURY withdrawals.
 
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T23

Semi-Pro
Do you mean he should skip the USO as well?
I just think that whatever Rafa’s fans think we can’t influence what he does so, on that front, I don’t waste time on a wish list as far as his calendar goes.
No! I mean only play 1hc, canada maybe - definitely play USO.
 

NeutralFan

G.O.A.T.
Excellent post. 100% agree. Nadal is a FREIGHT TRAIN that doesn't understand the STOP button.
He OVERPLAYS, gets injured and sits out.
If he is lucky, the injury happens before slams, and gives him chances to COMPETE in slams. If he is unlucky, he withdraws/retires from slams.
It's been happening for 17+ years now.
No wonder, among the big 3, Nadal has the LEAST slam appearances, MOST RETIREMENTS and INJURY withdrawals.


For you my man!
 
Toni Nadal said his nephew intends to play the Madrid Open, which starts on May 2. Rafael Nadal suffered the rib injury during Indian Wells, where he lost the final to Taylor Fritz, but returned to the practice courts on Monday after a four-week layoff. Nadal is chasing a 14th French Open at Roland Garros, and will hope an appearance at Madrid can boost his chances of a 22nd Grand Slam title.


Hopefully, he skips Madrid and just play Rome. No need to hurry it up just because it's in Spain
 

Gt86

Professional
Excellent post. 100% agree. Nadal is a FREIGHT TRAIN that doesn't understand the STOP button.
He OVERPLAYS, gets injured and sits out.
If he is lucky, the injury happens before slams, and gives him chances to COMPETE in slams. If he is unlucky, he withdraws/retires from slams.
It's been happening for 17+ years now.
No wonder, among the big 3, Nadal has the LEAST slam appearances, MOST RETIREMENTS and INJURY withdrawals.
And yet the MOST SLAMS. Epic AF.
 
D

Deleted member 788697

Guest
Hopefully, he skips Madrid and just play Rome. No need to hurry it up just because it's in Spain
Are you joking? You think playing in Spain is "no reason"? :-D
Playing Barcelona and Madrid has always been the main priority for Nadal.
 
D

Deleted member 788697

Guest
At the expense of his health ? Are you fuqin serious
What expense of health? His doctors approved his return....
Plus let's be honest, Nadal has been playing hurt for most of his career.
And if he's going to play hurt, Madrid is one of the places he'd be most willing to play hurt in.
 

Shaj

Semi-Pro
Need a neutral doctor to evaluate this guys "injuries".. Apparently months before Roland Garos he suffers a career threatening injury but when RG gets nearer, it magically heals. And this happens every year..
 

intrepidish

Hall of Fame
Need a neutral doctor to evaluate this guys "injuries".. Apparently months before Roland Garos he suffers a career threatening injury but when RG gets nearer, it magically heals. And this happens every year..

It's not magic and he missed 2 of his favorite tournaments to try and be ready for his most significant event.

The whining from people like you on the other hand does happen every year.
 

UnderratedSlam

G.O.A.T.
It's not magic and he missed 2 of his favorite tournaments to try and be ready for his most significant event.

The whining from people like you on the other hand does happen every year.
The bolded part is something Nadal's haters seem to miss, or pretend isn't there...

They actually imply that Nadal has this whole injury conspiracy going, whereby he WILLFULLY SKIPS HIS FAVE EVENTS just to sucker Novak and RF fans. That is stupidity of a magnitude that no instrument can measure.
 

NeutralFan

G.O.A.T.
The bolded part is something Nadal's haters seem to miss, or pretend isn't there...

They actually imply that Nadal has this whole injury conspiracy going, whereby he WILLFULLY SKIPS HIS FAVE EVENTS just to sucker Novak and RF fans. That is stupidity of a magnitude that no instrument can measure.

My favourite part is when they can't explain why Nadal would skip countless slams through out his career when he could participate and have a a chance to win.
 
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