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NADAL FOCUSED ON CLAY-COURT SEASON
The Straits Times
|March 05, 2024
He aims to leave Indian Wells unscathed, backs Alcaraz as future of Spanish tennis
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LAS VEGAS - Rafael Nadal said he hopes to avoid any injury setbacks at Indian Wells so he can be fully fit for the upcoming clay-court season in what could be his final year on the ATP Tour.
The 37-year-old, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on the red clay of Roland Garros, has suggested his career could be coming to a close and missed the 2024 Australian Open due to pain in his surgically repaired hip.
"For me, the priority is to try to get out of Indian Wells unscathed," Nadal was quoted as saying on Eurosport, ahead of his exhibition match against fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on March 3. Alcaraz won 3-6, 6-4, 14-12.
"Whatever has to be left, leave it in the clay season, which may or may not be the last, I have not decided 100 per cent. At the moment, things are going that way," Nadal said at a press conference ahead of the Netflix Slam event.
"I'm not saying goodbye because then I'd say I'm not playing anymore. This is an important point and I don't want to say it because I'm not 100 per cent clear about it.
This story is from the March 05, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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