Rafael Nadal does not see his defeat in the quarterfinals of the Masters in Madrid as a nasty blow to Roland Garros. The 35-year-old Spaniard lost on Friday to compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who is sixteen years younger than him.
“I have no problem accepting this defeat,” said Nadal after the game, which lasted more than two hours (2-6, 6-1, 3-6). “I know my journey to Roland Garros and I know what I have to do to get there in 2.5 weeks to be in good shape.”
“I did my best. Of course I’ve had better days, but worse. In any case, it’s not a disaster. I went out with a good attitude and can look at this week quite positively.”
Nadal returned to Madrid for a month after a rib injury. David Goffin already had a full hand before his match against Alcaraz. He has survived at least four matches against the Belgians in the third round.
It is no surprise that he is still at the top of his form for the current world fourth. “I can clearly see where improvement is needed. Now is the time to start working on that and have the confidence that things will move in the right direction soon.”
Nadal has won Roland Garros thirteen times and is therefore at a lonely height. He failed against Novak Djokovic, who won in the semifinals last year. The Grand Slam tournament in Paris starts on May 22.
Source: NU
Jason Jack is an experienced technology journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in computer science and engineering, he has a deep understanding of the latest technology trends and developments. He writes about a wide range of technology topics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development, and cybersecurity.
