By Rafael Nadal says he is still in two minds about whether he will play the French Open starting later this month after he was eliminated from the Rome Masters 1000 event.
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz beat Nadal 6-1, 6-3 in the second round to end the Spaniard’s run at the tournament – also known as the Italian Open — he has won a record 10 times.
Nadal was broken four times by Hurkacz before he bowed out in 93 minutes.
The 37-year-old, who has said he expected to retire after this season, spent most of last year nursing a hip issue that required surgery, before a muscle tear in Brisbane stalled his comeback in January.
Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times but competing at his favourite major is still not certain.
“You can see today on the court how difficult it is,” Nadal told reporters in Rome.
“Probably one is to say, ‘OK, I’m not ready, I’m not playing well’. Then it’s the moment to take a decision in terms of not playing Roland-Garros.
“Another is accept how I am today and work the proper way to try to be in a different way in two weeks.
“The decision, as you can imagine, is not clear in my mind today. But if I have to say what’s my feeling and if my mind is closer one way or the other way, I’m going to say, ‘Be in Roland-Garros and try my best’.
“Physically, I have some issues, but not probably yet enough to say not playing in the most important event of my tennis career.”
The French Open begins on May 26.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Alex de Minaur reached the last 32 in Rome.
The world number 11, the last Australian in the singles to take to the Foro Italico courts in Rome, can only have been aware his compatriots had been falling like ninepins around him all week as he patiently awaited his opening match after a first-round bye.
But he was determined not to join the casualty list as he swept to victory over tough clay-court specialist Roberto Carballés Baena 6-2, 6-3 in their second-round encounter to reach the second week.
De Minaur broke his Spanish opponent’s serve six times, with his speed around the court once again leading to some spectacular winners.
It is possible that a good run in Rome could result in de Minaur returning to the top 10.
But he will have a formidable obstacle in the third round in the shape of rejuvenated Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-6 (8/6).
Reuters/AAP
