Rafael Nadal opens up on ‘bad’ Indian Wells preparation, admits ‘priority is to try to get out unscathed’

Rafael Nadal admits his “bad” preparation for Indian Wells means he has no idea how he will perform in his second tournament for 13 months.

A muscle injury has hampered the 37-year-old’s season, limiting him to just one appearance so far, a run to the quarter-finals of the Brisbane Open.

However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has been edging closer to fitness and will step up his preparation with an exhibition match against Carlos Alcarez on Sunday.

That should give him a gauge of where his form is, but the Spaniard has tempered any expectations of a run deep into the Masters 1000 event in the Californian desert.

“I don’t know how I am,” Nadal admitted. “I haven’t played a set since Brisbane. I’ve had better and worse moments.

“The most important thing for me is that I’m here. If I’m here it’s already good news.

“Two weeks ago, beyond the results, the goal was to play Las Vegas and Indian Wells and I’m closer to achieving it.

“I don’t know what level I’ll be at in Indian Wells, but it is the least important thing today. For me, it is important to spend a few days in Indian Wells and train with professionals.

“The preparation for Indian Wells has been bad and for Brisbane had been good. I hope to play a set between this Sunday’s match and the three days I have left before the debut.”

The muscle injury sustained in Brisbane forced Nadal to pull out of January’s Australian Open, meaning he has not played at a Grand Slam since reaching the second round in Melbourne in 2023.

With the clay court season just around the corner though, few would write him off from lifting a 15th French Open crown in June.

He admits that might be the last time he plays at Roland-Garros, but is not prepared to make any definitive decisions on his future just yet.

“For me, the priority is to try to get out of Indian Wells unscathed,” he added. “Whatever has to be left, leave it in the clay season, which may or may not be the last, I have not decided 100%. At the moment things are going that way.

“I’m not saying goodbye because then I’d say I’m not playing anymore. This is an important point and I don’t want to say it because I’m not 100% clear about it.

“In the last two years, I haven’t been able to play. Life is showing you the path.

“How did I imagine my farewell? At first, I didn’t imagine it because when you start to imagine something, it means that the closer you are to it. It wasn’t something I had in mind.

“I would like to say goodbye well, being competitive and enjoying myself on the court. Whether that can be or not, time will tell.”

Nadal, who has dropped to 654 in the world rankings, will play his first round match at Indian Wells on March 7.