Nadal: ‘Rome one of the most important events in my career’

Rafael Nadal endured a tough Saturday afternoon at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, where the record 10-time champion fell in straight sets to Hubert Hurkacz. Yet a disappointing end to his 2024 campaign is not going to tarnish Nadal’s memories when he looks back on his achievements in Rome.

“I always say that I will never be able to say thank you enough for all the love and support that I receive around the world,” said Nadal, who has previously stated that this season will likely be the last of his career. “Here in Rome is obviously one of the most important events in my tennis career, one of these events that is going to be in my heart for so many reasons.

“Here I played a few of the most important matches, beautiful matches, emotional ones. In a lot of moments of my tennis career, I was able to come back from tough moments playing here in Rome, especially the last eight years when I arrived here with some doubts, then I started to play well here.

“Obviously, it was not the case today, but it really happened in the past. I enjoyed a lot playing in this court.”

Nadal let slip five break points in the opening game of his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Hurkacz. That later proved costly, as the Pole dialled in behind his serve and took control of the match from the middle of the opening set.

“I think it was a tough one, obviously,” reflected Nadal, who is now 70-9 in the Italian capital. “It's obvious that I started the match well. First few games, almost half an hour for the first two games, having a few chances and playing well. Then [he] had the break, and I lost a little bit the way to push him back, the way to create that much on him.

“In the first set I think the score lied a little bit about what the game was. Then he was much better than me in the second. I didn't have that feeling in the first, but in the second, yeah. I was not able to push him back.”

Nadal was competing in just his third tour-level event since returning from injury in mid-April. Despite the fact the Spaniard is still trying to rediscover his best level while easing back in physically, he believed his showing against Hurkacz was an inaccurate reflection of how he feels.

“He was serving well. It was difficult for me to return,” said the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “It's difficult to feel yourself with real chances of come back with his serve and without being able to create enough damage to him and creating mistakes.

“That's it. Just accept that. It was a tough day for me in all ways because I felt more ready than what I showed. That gives me a bad feeling, because [I was] feeling better, [but was not] able to show myself on court… As I said before the tournament started, I am little bit more unpredictable today, not playing enough for the last two years."

Nadal also looked ahead to Roland Garros, where he has won a record 14 titles.

“Now [there are] two ways," he said. "Probably one is to say, Okay, I am not ready, I am not playing well enough. Then is the moment to take a decision in terms of not playing Roland Garros. Another is to accept how I am today and work the proper way to try to be in a different way in two weeks.

“The decision, as you can imagine, is not clear in my mind today. But if I have to say what's my feeling and if my mind is closer one way or the other way, I’m going to say I will be in Roland Garros and try my best.

“Physically I have some issues, but not probably yet enough to say not playing in the most important event of my tennis career. Let's see what's going on, how I feel myself mentally tomorrow, after tomorrow, and in one week. If I feel ready, I’m going to try to be there and fight for the things that I have been fighting the last 15 years, even if now it seems impossible.”