MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal tore his headband off, thrust his arms in the air, and soaked up the cheers. It was only a second-round win, but coming from where Nadal had been just a few weeks ago when he couldn’t even get on the court, he could have been savoring a trophy.
He had just beaten 11th-ranked Alex de Minaur 7-6 (6), 6-3 at the Madrid Open on Saturday, avenging a straight-set loss to the Australian less than two weeks ago.
Nadal is no longer aiming to add to his 92 titles after being decimated by injuries in recent years. The 37-year-old just wants to play like Rafael Nadal, or as close to that as he can. So he is going forward game by game, measuring his efforts to avoid an injury that would likely force his definitive retirement, with the ultimate goal of being competitive one more time at next month’s French Open.
“I have been through some very difficult months when there were moments when I didn’t see the reason to continue, but I had the dream of experiencing feelings like this again and above all at home,” Nadal said. “It was incredible.”
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3
Türkiye calls for greater defense cooperation with Germany
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
Charlize Theron cuts a casual figure in a T
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York City jails
The Bears see bigger things in store after drafting QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze
Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
3 children in minivan hurt when it rolled down hill, into baseball dugout wall in Illinois
Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia
Josh Naylor, Ramon Laureano help Guardians outlast Braves 4