ATP Madrid: Rafael Nadal wants to attack despite viral illness
Rafael Nadal had to deal with a viral disease in the run-up to the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. Nevertheless, the Spaniard wants to attack fully at his home tournament - and put the focus entirely on tennis.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: May 08, 2019, 10:09 am
by Nikolaus Fink from Madrid
Rafael Nadal already seemed a bit drawn at his press conference on Tuesday. The second in the world rankings had had to postpone the media date originally scheduled for Sunday twice, but he did not want to move the journalists a third time despite an obviously not ideal health condition.
"It's been a more than complicated week. I woke up with a stomach virus on Sunday. I still have a strange or not so super positive feeling," said the Mallorcan insight into his past days. "But the positive side is that I was able to train for an hour and a half," continued Nadal.
The Spaniard had hit numerous fans on Practice Court 13 with the Norwegian Casper Ruud on Tuesday, leaving a much better impression than the day before. The training set went 6-1 to Nadal and should have eliminated the last doubts about an appearance in the Caja Magica.
"I hope it will be a little better tomorrow," said Nadal of his stomach problems: "I feel better today than yesterday and felt more comfortable yesterday than the day before. But it is true that the body agrees with a virus The beginning is weaker. There is a bit more risk of injury. "
Nadal "wants equality" between men and women
The 32-year-old also commented on Justin Gimelstob's resignation from the ATP board: "In my opinion, Justin did what he had to do." For the future, the Mallorcan wants a Spanish-speaking representative on the ATP board for the many Latin Americans and Spaniards: "It is an opportunity to create more diversity."
Nadal also made a clear statement about the "equal pay debate": "From my point of view, I want equality. I would like women to have the same opportunities and rights. You earn more or less money because of the quality of your work women will earn more money in some jobs and men in other jobs, "said the 17-time Grand Slam winner.
Sometimes you change my words.
Rafael Nadal to the journalists
In addition, the Spaniard did not leave the press with good hair. "You take my words and say something different from what I said. Sometimes you change my words. So I won't say anything else," said Nadal, referring to the fact that he had not been correctly quoted in the past about the prize money debate .
"We have reached a point where we always talk about such questions and try to cause a sensation," said Nadal, wanting to put the focus back on tennis. The five-time winner of the event on Wednesday will also need this - Nadal meets the "complicated opponent" Felix Auger-Aliassime.