* public_profileBlurb *

Display Name:

* public_displayName *

* public_name *
* public_gender *
* public_birthdate *
* public_emailAddress *
* public_address *
* public_phoneNumber *

Adblock test (Why?)

Source link

Barcelona

Nadal confirms he’s ready for Barcelona: ‘I’m going to give my all’

The Spaniard will return Tuesday in Barcelona

April 15, 2024

Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell

Rafael Nadal talks to media on Monday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
By Alvaro Rama

The excitement of playing in a tennis tournament again is building for Rafael Nadal, who is making his return at this week’s Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The former World No. 1, who has been sidelined since 5 January, is working hard in the Catalonian city towards one simple goal — having the chance to play at home, to hit the ball freely and try to enjoy himself on court, something he has done for his whole life and is now longing to do again.

“I’m happy to be here,” said the Spaniard, who hasn’t been at the Conde de Godó event since claiming his 12th title there in 2021. “I have many very good memories of this tournament. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to be here in recent years. Luckily I was able to come here as a last-minute decision. I think, all things considered, the week of training has been positive. Tomorrow I will be on court.”

The match, in which he will face the Italian Flavio Cobolli, currently No. 62 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will be his door back onto the circuit after a wait that has seemed eternal for everyone. Fans at Real Club de Tennis Barcelona 1899 have been jostling to catch a glimpse of one of their biggest heroes, well aware of the long road he has trodden to get there.

Having come through an unprecedented 2023 season, after an operation on his psoas and an old hip problem, the Spaniard was back on the ATP Tour in January in Brisbane. At the Australian event, he picked up two wins before bowing out to Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals, in a match he ended with an injury.

Rafa suffered a minor muscle tear in the area that had kept him off the courts in 2023, forcing him to pull out of the Australian Open and the ATP 250 in Doha, two events that he had planned to play at the start of the season. Subsequently, treading cautiously, he decided not to play in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the Miami Open presented by Itaú, or the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the first three ATP Masters 1000s of the season.

The Mallorcan appears to be taking the situation in stride, while being realistic about the facts surrounding his return to professional competition.

“It doesn’t make me at all hesitant, the question is whether or not I can,” he explained. “It’s been a difficult couple of years, I had a major hip operation that I took one year to recover from. When that happens, it’s difficult. Things happen to your body and they’ve prevented me from following my schedule as I would’ve liked. [It is about] accepting situations — when you can, you can and when you can’t, you can’t. As much as it pains me to miss certain events, it is what it is. I have to weigh up all the good things that have happened to me throughout my life. At this point of my career, unfortunately or not, I’m in a different situation.”

The 12-time champion is counting his blessings and savouring every moment of his time in Barcelona, where he is already starting to feel the heat of the competition.

“Rather than regretting the places I haven’t been able to play, I’m happy to be here. On a personal level, to me being in Barcelona is a gift,” Nadal said. “I’m treating it as my last year, I want to enjoy every second. That makes everything a little more special. Currently that’s how I feel. It hurt not being able to be in Monte-Carlo last week but, luckily, things have improved this week. I feel ready to go out and play tomorrow.

“Without thinking any more about it, about my readiness. I’m aware of what the situation is. Things can happen, I’m only just ready. But I’m realistic and, to me, simply being here is exciting and being able to play this tournament and on this court makes me happy.”

<!–

–>
<!–

–>

At an event he has been playing in for over two decades, since his first participation in the 2003 season, the Mallorcan spoke about how it makes him feel to be at the tournament in a year that is different to any other.

“Other times I’ve been excited to come here with the feeling that I had a chance of winning. I’m not going to say this time is more exciting than others,” Nadal explained. “They’ve all been special and important to me. Luckily, I’ve experienced many things that have given me great memories. That’s life. Everything has a beginning and an end. In sporting terms, I don’t know what might happen in the future. Right now I’m treating this as if it’s my last participation in the Godó tournament. This is my current feeling.

“I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can, while still being competitive. I’m not going out there for an homage, I’m going to try and do as well as possible to give myself chances. The week’s practice was positive and I’m going to give my all.”

Editor’s note: This interview has been translated from ATPTour.com/es.

Adblock test (Why?)

Source link

DETROIT – Lane Hutson will make his NHL debut when the Canadiens take on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Monday.

“I feel good. I’m just really excited. The guys here have been great and I’m just ready to get going,” Hutson said following morning skate. “It’s pretty surreal, honestly. Just being here and being with this group is really cool and I’m just really excited.”

Hutson follows Cole Caufield (2021), Jordan Harris (2022) and Sean Farrell (2023) as the fourth Hab in the last four seasons to sign out of college and make their NHL debut that same year.

Adblock test (Why?)

Source link