Heading into this year’s Barcelona Open, former world No.1 Rafael Nadal finds himself in unfamiliar territory.
For the first time since 2004, the 32-year-old enters the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona 1899 without winning a title so far this season. Nadal has only played in four tournaments prior to Barcelona Open after being briefly sidelined from action once again by a knee injury. He kicked-off his campaign on the clay in Monte Carlo last week, where he suffered a shock loss to eventual champion Fabio Fognini. A match he described as one of the worst he had ever played on the surface.
“My personal opinion is that I played one of the worst matches on clay. It’s a reality. There is no need to hide it. I do not see the benefit of wanting to deny it,” Nadal told reporters on Monday. “What has happened has happened.”
Nadal is now on a journey to rediscover his form ahead of the French Open. During the European swing on clay, he is defending 4680 ranking points. The highest amount on the tour. Despite his absence and the setbacks, the Spaniard has reached the semi-finals or better in seven out of the past eight tournaments he has played in.
“It is true that I have not won any titles, but I reached the final in Australia, semi-finals in Indian Wells and now semi-finals again in Monte-Carlo. The year is not bad and I’m third in the [ATP Race To London], but with more problems than I would have liked,” he said.
“The job is to find myself. During the last 18 months, I have had too many stops and ups and downs, non-tennis related. And when that happens, it’s hard to pick up rhythm and continuity. But it is true that it has happened so many times, and that after things go well… everything that happened seems to be forgotten. I hope to be ready to play well. And if it is not here, it will be in Madrid, in Rome or at Roland Garros.”
It is hoped that Nadal can get back on track at the Barcelona Open. A tournament he has dominated over the years by winning the title a record 11 titles. Overall, he has a win-loss record of 58-3 at the event. In 2017 the premier court was renamed in his honour.
“I lost a good opportunity to start the season in a fantastic way. But I’ve now got another one.” Nadal explained.
“We will know more about my form on Wednesday. This is a very special tournament that is part of the history of tennis and of my own.
“I have another morning to practice and we will see how we are doing. On a physical level, I’m more or less well.”
Nadal will take on Leonardo Mayer in his first match on Wednesday. The Argentine downed Marius Copil 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5, in the first round. In their head-to-head, Nadal leads 5-0 and has only ever lost one set against Mayer.
How many points is Nadal defending in the coming weeks?
2018 Points defending – 4680 :-
– Monte-Carlo: 1000 (champion)*
– Barcelona: 500 (champion)
– Madrid: 180 (quarter-finals)
– Rome: 1000 (champion)
– Roland Garros: 2000 (champion)
* Last week, Nadal lost in the semi-finals in Monte Carlo and dropped 500 points.
