The 13-time champion was upbeat and joking with reporters as he talked about his chances at this year’s edition, his 18th career appearance on the terre battue in Paris, hopefully drawing a parallel between this year’s Australian Open, where he made a stunning run to his 21st major title. 

“Today looks difficult and looks like there are players that are in better shape than me, without a doubt, and is true today, but you never know what can happen in the next couple of days,” Nadal said. “Same happened in Australia, and I put myself in a position to have a chance. And here is no different. 

“[What] I have to do is believe in my chances, believe in my daily work, and then stay positive and believe in my real chances.”

The 13-time champion was upbeat and joking with reporters as he talked about his chances at this year’s edition, his 18th career appearance on the terre battue in Paris, hopefully drawing a parallel between this year’s Australian Open, where he made a stunning run to his 21st major title. 

“Today looks difficult and looks like there are players that are in better shape than me, without a doubt, and is true today, but you never know what can happen in the next couple of days,” Nadal said. “Same happened in Australia, and I put myself in a position to have a chance. And here is no different. 

“[What] I have to do is believe in my chances, believe in my daily work, and then stay positive and believe in my real chances.”

Turning that belief into a thrilling run will hinge largely on the condition of Nadal’s left foot. He didn’t want to dwell on the issue with reporters, but assured the press that he is feeling much better than he did last week, when he was grimacing in pain as he fell to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16 at Rome.