Rafael Nadal heads into his weekend clash at the Madrid Masters plagued by doubts over his continuing level of fitness and said he will leave his decision on whether to play the French Open to the last possible moment.
The 14-time champion in Paris is gingerly making his way at his home Masters but looks to be lacking in confidence about his chance of advancement on the clay in the Spanish capital – and beyond.
“I’m not going to make any decision here, I’ll make it after Rome. If I arrive (at Roland Garros), I arrive.
“If I don’t arrive, I don’t arrive.”
He added: “What I’m not going to do is play in Paris without the feeling that I can compete well.
“I’m not talking about winning, but about going out on the court to give my all and that I can compete. It is logical, after everything I have experienced in Paris, not to want to feel different on a court that is so important to me.”
After losing last week in Barcelona to Spanish-speaking Australian de Minaur, Nadal is not bursting with confidence ahead of his Saturday second-round match.
“I don’t think I’m going to leave this tournament 100 per cent happy. If I leave without getting hurt and compete without anything happening and playing at a competitive level, then it’ll be time to take a step. further.”
