Rafael Nadal stated that he is hoping to avoid any setbacks in terms of injuries at Indian Wells in order to be fully prepared for the upcoming claycourt season, which may be his last year competing for the ATP Tour.
The 37-year-old, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam championships on Roland Garros’ red clay, has hinted that his career may be coming to an end. He also missed the Australian Open this year because of hip problems following surgery.
“My priority is to get out of Indian Wells unscathed,” Nadal told Eurosport ahead of his exhibition match against fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on Sunday.
“Leave whatever is left in the clay season, which may or may not be the last; I have not made up my mind. At the moment, things are going that way,” Nadal stated in Spanish at a news conference prior to the Netflix Slam event.
“I’m not going to say farewell since it would mean I’m no longer playing. I hesitate to express an important issue since I am unsure about it.I haven’t been able to play for the past two years. “Life is guiding you.”
Former world number one Nadal, a three-time Indian Wells champion, will play his first round match on Thursday in the southern California desert.
