BARCELONA – Rafael Nadal said the upcoming French Open will be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur on April 17.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round.

Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of the 2023 season, is hoping to compete at the May 26-June 9 French Open, where he is the record 14-time champion.

The Spaniard explained that the clash with de Minaur was not the moment he was saving himself for, instead targeting his Roland Garros return as the time to go for broke in what he expects will be the last year of his career.

“On a personal level, for what is to come, the 6-1 in the second set is what had to happen today. It wasn’t today that I had to give everything and die, I have to give myself the chance to do that in a few weeks,” he said.

“I will try to take a step further in Madrid, then another one in Rome and, in Paris... there is the moment to do it, whatever happens, there is no better place to.”

Nadal also said the key to being able to triumph at Roland Garros was continuing to build in the weeks ahead.

“(I need to be) getting the weeks of experience, of matches, and feeling more comfortable with everything,” he added.

“Today I felt more comfortable than yesterday... I have to be realistic, today I cannot have a game that goes for 2½ hours, or three.”

The veteran, who has won the Barcelona clay-court title on 12 occasions, eased past Flavio Cobolli on April 16 in his first ATP Tour match since January. But he came up short against de Minaur, who has now won his last two clashes against the former world No. 1.

“I’m sad because nobody wants Rafa to stop playing. I never thought I’d get a win over Rafa on clay, it’s something I’ll be able to say when I finish my career,” said de Minaur, 25.

Also progressing to the last 16 is Monte Carlo Masters winner Stefanos Tsitsipas, who dispatched Sebastian Ofner in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.

In women’s tennis, Naomi Osaka refused to blame a lengthy trip from Japan to France after losing 6-4, 6-2 to Italian Martina Trevisan in the first round of the WTA event in Rouen.

“I am not the type to make excuses for myself, I just have to really do better. Today... I didn’t hit too many great shots and I could have done better,” she said, while confirming her presence at next week’s Madrid Open. AFP