Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s coach and uncle, tells Reuters that the former world No. 1 will no longer play an overly taxing schedule. After winning a record sixth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters title earlier this month, Nadal pulled out of last week's Barcelona Open, a tournament he’d won five straight times, in order to rest for Rome this week.
“I suppose we'll play a little less,” Toni Nadal said. “[The decision to skip Barcelona] was also related to the need to prepare for the upcoming season, which is hard, and avoid having problems with Wimbledon and Roland Garros. The important thing for Rafa is not the ranking, but to be in good shape for every tournament he takes part in, to know that he has the chance to win the tournaments he takes part in. Naturally, if on top of this, he has a good ranking, so much the better.”—M.C.