The clash of generations was cut short. Opposed to Darwin Blanch, a young American 21 years his junior ranked beyond 1000th place in the world, Thursday in the first round of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, Rafael Nadal did not provide details. The Spaniard won 6-1, 6-0 in just over an hour of play. Insufficient to give him solid assurances on the path to a return to form.
“I didn’t learn anything,” Rafa said after the meeting. I played against a player with enormous potential but still very young and who made a lot of mistakes. I haven’t really tested my body. I had a decent match, I did what was necessary to pass, but he made my life easier. »
Obviously, the discussion at the press conference quickly turned around Roland-Garros. On Wednesday, the Spaniard announced that he would not play Porte d’Auteuil in the state he currently finds himself in. “After everything I went through there, it makes sense not to want to feel any way,” he confirmed 24 hours later. What I’m not going to do is play in Paris without the feeling that I can be competitive. I’m not talking about winning, but about entering the court with the feeling that I can really give my best and be competitive. »
“We don’t spend our days talking about Paris”
For the rest, you will have to be patient. “I’m not going to make any decisions about Paris here. I will take it after Rome (the last Masters 1000 before the Parisian Grand Slam), said the person concerned. We don’t spend our days talking about whether I’m going to go to Paris or not. I will make my way. If I can do it, I can do it. Otherwise, no. »
Nadal will in any case know very quickly if the developments of the last few days are positive. On Saturday, for his second round, he will face the solid Alex de Minaur, who beat him last week in Barcelona (7-5, 6-1). “If I am able to play at a competitive level, I will be able to say that it has been a positive week,” said the former world number 1. And then it will be time to take another step. »