After Barca exit, Rafa says Paris is his priority

BARCELONA — Rafael Nadal said the upcoming French Open will be the moment to "give everything and die" on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur on Wednesday.

The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled in the second round 7-5, 6-1 against the world No 11 from Australia.

Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of the 2023 season, is hoping to compete at the French Open in May, where he is the record 14-time champion.

The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was not the moment he was saving himself for, instead targeting his Roland Garros return as the time to go for broke in what is likely to be the last year of his career.

"On a personal level, for what is to come, this is what had to happen today," said Nadal, who explained there were bigger challenges ahead.

"It wasn't today that I had to give everything and die, I have to give myself the chance to do that in a few weeks, or at least try to," Nadal told reporters.

"I will try to take a step further in Madrid, then another one in Rome and, in Paris, that is the moment to do it, whatever happens, there is no better place to do so."

Nadal said the key to being able to triumph at Roland Garros was continuing to build in the weeks ahead.

" (I need to be) getting the weeks of experience, of matches, and feeling more comfortable with everything," continued Nadal.

"Today I felt more comfortable than yesterday. I have to be realistic, today I cannot have a game that goes for two-and-a-half or three hours."

The Spaniard, who has won the Barcelona clay-court title on 12 occasions, eased past Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday in his first ATP Tour match since January.

However, he came up short against De Minaur, who has now won his last two clashes against the former world No 1.

Despite showing flashes of his supreme quality on the court named after him, Nadal was defeated in what he said would "realistically" be his final appearance at the tournament.

De Minaur broke in the first game and tested Nadal with a series of brilliant drop shots, which Nadal could not reach.

However Nadal hit back with a break of his own in the sixth game, and consolidated with a fizzing backhand for a 4-3 lead.

De Minaur took a 6-5 lead and sealed the first set when the Spaniard pushed a shot into the net, winning the final 10 points as Nadal started to struggle.

The 25-year-old Australian dominated the second set, breaking three times and wrapping it up when Nadal went long.

"I'm sad, because nobody wants Rafa to stop playing," said De Minaur.

"I never thought I'd get a win over Rafa on clay, that's something I'll be able to say when I finish my career."

AFP