He actually did it again. Rafael Nadal wins in Paris for the 14th time. But the way in which he got fit for his big goal also raises questions.
Rafael Nadal made tennis fans all over the world tremble. After his 14th triumph at the French Open, the 36-year-old Spaniard spoke for more than four minutes before finally speaking the words that everyone wanted to hear at that moment.
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“I don’t know what the future will bring, but I will keep fighting,” said Nadal, freaking out the 15,000 spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier. Nadal continues, that was the message of the day.
“I just love playing tennis”
Quite a few had expected Nadal to end his impressive career on Sunday. Center Court in the Stade Roland Garros, 14th Paris title, 22nd triumph in a Grand Slam tournament – it was actually the perfect place and time to say goodbye. However, Nadal once again amazed not only with his performance on the pitch but also with his plans for the future.
“I just like doing what I do,” said Nadal after the clear 6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 0 in the final of the French Open against the hopeless Norwegian Casper Ruud. “I just love playing tennis and competing.” For the next title in his tennis living room, Nadal took the risk again. Also and above all in terms of health. Because the fact that Nadal won again in Paris was not due to his extraordinary talent this time – but solely to his doctor. “I can’t thank my doctor enough,” said the Mallorcan. Before each of his seven games, Nadal had injections for his chronic pain in his left foot. “I was playing with a numb foot, the nerves were blocked,” reported the Spanish clay court maestro. He also took anti-inflammatory drugs throughout the tournament.
“Won’t do something like that again for Wimbledon”
An approach that his fans admire, but many also see very critically. After all, the Spaniard himself has realized that the procedure in the Bois de Boulogne cannot be a permanent solution. “Roland Garros is Roland Garros. Everyone knows what this tournament means to me,” said Nadal. He only got involved in this injection cure for this special place for him. From now on there must be another solution for his chronic foot problems.
“No,” he answered bluntly when asked if he would repeat the procedure for the grass classic in Wimbledon, which begins in three weeks. “I respect Wimbledon very much, it’s always an important goal every year. But no, I won’t do something like that for Wimbledon again,” said Nadal, “that doesn’t make sense”. If he can only play with anti-inflammatory drugs, then yes, if injections are necessary again, then no – that was Nadal’s clear message with a view to Wimbledon.
Nadal is counting on his doctor finding a permanent solution to his problems this week. “It is obvious that I cannot and do not want to continue like this,” said Nadal. But the fact that during the time in Paris it was possible to numb the two nerves responsible for the severe pain in his foot makes him confident. “So that’s what we’re trying to do consistently over the coming week,” Nadal said. For this purpose, radio frequency injections are to be given to him.
If the treatment works, Nadal can even imagine starting in Wimbledon on June 27th. “If my body is ready for Wimbledon, I will be at Wimbledon. If not, then not,” said the Spaniard. If no quick solution can be found for the chronic complaints, he has to worry about “a big thing”, said Nadal. “A major intervention that doesn’t guarantee me that I’ll be able to compete again afterwards and that would take a long time to come back.”
It is not yet completely clear that Nadal will actually continue his career. First of all, the tennis fans were relieved. The “God on earth”, as the Spanish daily newspaper “El Pais” put it on Monday, is still there. (dpa)
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