Rafael Nadal - Full focus on "the most important time of the year"
Rafael Nadal will return to the ATP tour at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. The 34-year-old is hoping for a good start to what is for him "the most important time of the year" in the Principality.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Mar 26, 2021, 01:45 pm
Just recently, Rafael Nadal announced that he would also like to compete in the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona. All in all, the Spaniard will most likely compete in four tournaments on his favorite surface sand before the hunt for title number 14 begins in Roland Garros.
Already in view of the tournament planning it is clear: Nadal's full focus is on the clay court season. Nadal will start on red ashes in Monte Carlo. The world number three has won the title eleven times in Monaco. After the corona-related cancellation last year, the Iberian wants to fill the dozen this year.
No use since the Australian Open
"I want to be competitive and well prepared to go to Monte Carlo and the entire clay court season. This is the most important time of the year for me," emphasized Nadal to Visión de Juego . Not least because of this, the 34-year-old decided not to travel to Miami this year.
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The 20-time Grand Slam winner prefers to prepare for the event in Monte Carlo in his native Mallorca. "I work very hard for it," emphasized Nadal, who has not been able to play a professional match since his quarter-final at the Australian Open due to back problems.
Nadal hopes for normalcy through vaccines
If you believe the training pictures that are currently circulating on social media, the injury concerns should have been cured. In the past, Nadal had repeatedly skipped one or the other tournament, only to then dominate on his favorite surface.
There are some indications that this could be the case again this year. There will be one difference compared to previous years, at least in Monte Carlo: empty grandstands. "It's sad to play without that extra energy. It's strange - especially for us older players - who used to travel with family and many other people," said Nadal, who has a wish for the future: "Hopefully it will get through the vaccines will return to normal. "