Rafael Nadal is currently recovering from an injury that he sustained during the 2022 Indian Wells final against Taylor Fritz, and he will attempt to play at the Madrid Open.
The Spanish player already withdrew from the Barcelona Open, and his next attempt at a comeback will be at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. However, the former world number 2, Alex Corretja, discussed if it's the ideal solution for Nadal to make his comeback in the Spanish capital.
Historically, Madrid hasn't been the best place for Nadal, as the high altitude makes the ball fly faster, and it makes it harder for him to use his weapons.
According to Corretja, the Spanish player is now standing in front of a decision of whether to compete in Madrid or not, as it may not be a perfect place for his comeback
"I think the major decision for Rafa will be go to Madrid or not. This is probably the most difficult part for Rafa because I believe from what we heard and what we saw that he is practicing. In a regular situation he might be ready to play Madrid, but is Madrid the perfect place for Rafa to come back?"
"Knowing that it’s the altitude and that through the clay-court season, that was the place that he usually felt a little bit more uncomfortable because he’s got so much power and he doesn’t control the ball as much as he likes, he’s got some opponents that hurt him in Madrid that usually don’t do [so] in a sea-level place."
At the same time, Nadal has one tournament circled in his calendar, and that's the Roland Garros. Whether he plays in Madrid or not will also depend on how it may impact his chances for the French Open.
"So is he going to be ready for Madrid? Maybe he is ready, but I’m not so sure that it will be his pick to get back in Madrid. If he’s healthy, probably he will go, but I think he will need to think what is best for him in order to be perfect for Roland Garros because [whilst] it would be great if he can be in Madrid and it would be unbelievable if he can be in Rome, he can’t hide that his main goal is to be perfect for Paris."
On top of that, while the Madrid Open is a clay-court tournament, it may not necessarily help him to prepare for the clay-court major, given the difference between the two courts.
"And what’s the best preparation for Paris? Two tournaments including that one in Madrid or skip and practice and get ready in Rome to see how it goes? And then Paris – only time will tell that. But it’s going to be a very tricky decision because skipping Madrid would be a pity for him. But at the same time, we know how risky Madrid is from a professional point of view."