Rafael Nadal has said he “wants to lose in the final on Sunday” in exchange for a new left foot after playing in his 14th French Open Championship on Friday. Nadal reached the final after being forced to retire from the last four fights by Alexander Sverev due to an ankle injury. Nadal, a 13-time champion, will be chasing his 22nd Grand Slam title on Sunday, but has insisted that any match will be the last match of his glorious career if he has a long left leg injury across the Roland Cross.
Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday, said: “Without a doubt, I want to lose the final.
“My opinion will not change and a new leg will allow me to be happy in my daily life.
“Succeeding is so wonderful and gives you the adrenaline rush, but it’s temporary, and then you have to live with it.”
“I have a life ahead of me and I want to play with my friends in the future. My happiness will advance beyond any degree,” he stressed.
Nadal will face Caspar Root in the final on Sunday.
Nadal, meanwhile, said it was “man” to sympathize with Sverev after the injury, forcing him to retire from the semifinals.
Sverev, Germany’s third-seeded player, was forced to leave the court in a wheelchair after falling late in the second set.
When he again admitted to the crutch match on the court to Philip Chatterjee, the two shared a loving warmth.
“If you’re a human being, you feel sorry for a colleague,” Nadal said.
Sverev was trailing 7-6 (10/8), 6-6 for more than three hours during the horror injury.
“It’s not easy to talk about. I hope he’s not hurt badly. I hope it’s not broken,” Nadal said. “I was with him when he had the ultrasound.”
The match took place under the roof of Court Philippe Chatterjee, creating a humid atmosphere that was watched by 15,000 spectators.
However, Nadal said the court was not in a bad position.
“It’s an accident, it’s an unfortunate moment.”
Nadal praised Sverre’s performance in his attempt to become the first German player to reach the German final since Michael Stitch in 1996.
“It was a tough match. He played brilliantly and I know how important it is for him to win a Grand Slam.
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“Circumstances were not ideal for me. I had to do a lot to survive. The first set was a miracle but I struggled.”
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and was automatically created from a syndicated feed.)
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