Rafael Nadal will be playing at the 2022 Italian Open in Rome, and prior to the tournament, he spoke about how he feels before the ATP Masters 1000 event.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion was welcomed by a packed stadium when he arrived for his first practice in the Italian capital and is eager to do well at the 2022 Italian Open.
Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated him in Madrid, will not compete at the event in Rome, increasing Naadal's chances of winning the title in the city, where he had so much success before.
Nadal is the defending champion in Rome and will try to show how strong he's on clay once again as he will start against the winner of the match between John Isner and Francesco Cerundolo.
Speaking before the tournament started, the experienced Spaniard admitted that at this stage of his tennis career, he's playing only because of his happiness.
"I like what I do, honestly. I am not playing anymore for things outside of my happiness and for things outside of my personal motivation. I am happy doing what I am doing. I still feel [I am] competitive when I am healthy enough."
"Of course, at my age, when you start having more problems than what you can manage, of course it is tough. Body issues, pains, you can manage that. The problem is when you start to feel that with all the things that's going through your body, you can't be competitive enough to fight for the things that really keep exciting you."
"For the moment I am happy. It is true that I went through, again, a tough period of time. But I am here to enjoy and to give myself a chance to play well here in Rome."
At the same time, the 13-time French Open champion is aware that, like every player, he must continue improving if he wants to be competitive.
"I need to keep improving…[But] it's normal that I need some more time in terms of everything. In terms of movement, in terms of being more fitter, in terms of reading again the game. In general terms, [it was] not a negative week in Madrid, even if the tournament is probably the most difficult for me, [with] the altitude."
"[I am] excited to be in Rome. It's a place that I love so much. [I have] amazing memories. I'll try my best, as I do always. I hope to be ready to play a little bit better than last week. Let's see."
The 21-time major winner was also asked about his compatriot, who won the Madrid Open. Obviously, Nadal was happy for Alcaraz, as the teenager might become the player that will follow in his footsteps and lead Spanish tennis in the years to come.
"He [Alcaraz] already won in Miami, won in Barcelona. Honestly it is not a big surprise. [I am] happy for him. Everybody knows the amount of confidence he has right now, the level that he can reach. [I am] happy for him and happy because we have an amazing player in our country for a lot of years to come."
"It's always special to win at home. It has probably been a very special week for him…At the same time I am happy to have somebody like him from my country achieving all the things that he's achieving."