Rafael Nadal Rolls At Madrid Open, But Status For French Open ...

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 25: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand against Darwin Blanch of USA on Day ... [+] Two during their 1st Round match of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 25, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal rolled in his first match at what may be his final Madrid Open, but his status for the French Open remains uncertain.

Ahead of his 6-1, 6-0 rout of 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch on Thursday, the 37-year-old Nadal said he was not sure if he would play Roland Garros starting next month. Nadal will next get a rematch on Saturday with Alex de Minaur after the Australian dispatched Nadal last week in straight sets in Barcelona.

“If I arrive in Paris the way I feel today, I will not play,” the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion said on Wednesday. “I will play Roland Garros if I feel competitive. If I can play, I play. If I can’t play, I can’t. It won’t be the end of the world or the end of my career. I still have goals after Roland Garros, like the Olympics.”

Prakash Amritraj of Tennis Channel suggested that Nadal could opt to play doubles with Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics, which will be held at Roland Garros. After that, Nadal is also committed to play Laver Cup, which could end up being a farewell event like it was in 2022 for Roger Federer.

“It’s easier to play in a best-of-3 sets but I think he’s pretty cognizant of the fact that, Barcelona, I want to play for Spanish fans, Madrid, I want to play for my Spanish fans,” Amritraj said on air. ”This may be the last time I’m able to play in these events which have meant so much to me here in Spain.

“So I think he’s going to do everything he possibly can to try to lace up and using his words ‘be competitive” for Roland Garros. That’s going to mean a lot to him because it’s been the most special event for his entire career.”

He continued: “There’s no real reason for him to sign up for the Laver cup other than the fact that that might be his big sendoff. Roger Federer had a very emotional send off when he quit playing so perhaps that’s what he’s thinking.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe shows emotion alongside Rafael Nadal ... [+] following their final match during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

Blanch is a bright young American who won the Kalamazoo 16s title at 14 and trains with Alcaraz at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s Academy in Spain after stops in Argentina and Thailand. He is ranked just outside the top 1000 in the world.

Nadal is 21 years, 117 days older than Blanch, making for the largest ever age gap in a Masters 1000 match.

“I’m really excited, obviously a little bit nervous,” Blanch said ahead of the match. “But I’m just really happy to be playing against Rafa. I’m ready to go out and just enjoy every moment.”

Nadal closed out the first set at 5-1, 40-0 when Blanch sailed a forehand long.

Serving for the match at 6-1, 5-0, Nadal cranked a service winner for his 57th win at Madrid.

Nadal then waved to the crowd at mid court amid a huge round of applause.

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 25: Coco Gauff of USA plays a forehand against Arantxa Rus of Netherlands on ... [+] Day Two during their 2nd Round match of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 25, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Nadal’s match followed Coco Gauff’s 6-0, 6-0 rout of Arantxa Rus, so the fans saw two stars win in routs.

Nadal, the 14-time French Open champion, returned to action in Barcelona last week after suffering another hip issue at his comeback tournament in January following a year out.

Nadal defeated Flavio Cobolli before losing to De Minaur in the second round.

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