Rafael Nadal highlighted playing and finishing a match as the most important aspect of his comeback at the 2024 Barcelona Open.
The 22-time major winner must be realistic about where he is right now. He's tried calming expectations from many fans worldwide by pointing out that everything is a process for him.
Even after winning a couple of matches in Australia earlier this year, Nadal dismissed suggestions that he will compete for trophies. He did the same thing after the resounding win over Flavio Cobolli, but that shouldn't come as a surprise.
After failing to get on court so many times in the past weeks, Nadal is simply not thinking about that. For him, it's about the small steps, which is to play first. He played a full match, and that's the most important thing for him.
"The most important thing is to have played, the rest is secondary. Until the week is over we won't know anything, for me it is important that nothing happens. Although it is difficult, perhaps it is not the week to do everything that my heart tells me."
Nadal has always maintained a pretty humble perspective, but this time, it's necessary. His goal is to play a couple of matches and stay healthy. Then, it's about repeating that process at a couple of events.
If everything goes well and his level improves, then maybe he'll start thinking about it more. A lot of things need to happen before then, though, so he's not even engaging with those thoughts.
"We are going to do things as best we can, with a lot of logic. That today's game went like this is positive, it allows me to play again tomorrow. I don't know how my body will respond to the demands, but I am realistic with what I have experienced in the last year and a half."
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