Rafael Nadal mentioned there have been positives to take from the Madrid Open regardless of the 21-times main winner falling to a quarter-final defeat by teenager Carlos Alcaraz on Friday in his first event again following a stress fracture within the rib.
Australian Open champion Nadal, who picked up the damage at Indian Wells in March, went down 6-2 1-6 6-3 to Spanish compatriot Alcaraz, ending his quest for a sixth title on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion.
“The studying of the event is I’ve performed three matches and that I got here right here with hardly any preparation… I mentioned it earlier than coming right here it was going to be a troublesome week,” Nadal informed reporters.
“But it surely has not been a catastrophe in any case. I believe that I’ve competed with the proper perspective. I’ve performed two, two-and-a-half hours, practically three… this can be a constructive consequence.”
The 35-year-old overcame Miomir Kecmanovic and David Goffin in his opening two matches earlier than developing quick towards an impressed Alcaraz.
Nadal added that he would have ideally most popular to make a return to motion on the Estoril Open in Portugal final week due to the excessive altitude within the Spanish capital.
“It will have been a lot better to start out the week earlier than in Estoril, at sea degree, a 250 event, however I did not handle to make it,” mentioned Nadal, who will likely be bidding for a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros later this month.
“I got here right here figuring out that that is the hardest event, as a result of right here the ball flies way more. After they return the ball, it’s a must to be a lot sooner together with your legs… as a result of should you do not place your self correctly behind the ball, the unforced error comes simply.”
