An early exit in the Italian Open second round cast a shadow on Rafael Nadal's bid to play the French Open on Saturday, after he lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 to Poland's seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz.
The 10-time winner in Rome was defeated in just 93 minutes in what could be his last campaign in Rome, after he announced earlier this month to play the Madrid Open, the clay court event preceding Rome, for the last time in his career.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion says he is yet to decide whether to participate in the tournament that is due to start on May 26.
Rafael Nadal looks dejected during the Italian Open second round in Rome, Italy, May 11, 2024. /CFP
"You can see today on the court how difficult it is," said the Spaniard after his second-round loss.
"Probably one is to say, 'Okay, 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."
Also on Saturday, China's Zheng Qinwen reached the round of 16 twice in a row with a comeback win over Czech teenage rising star Linda Noskova 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 to set up her next match with former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka from Japan.