ROME [Italy], 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal struggled to show his peak form at the Italian Open, losing in straight sets against Huber Hurkacz. After the defeat against Hurkacz in Rome, Nadal is looking ahead and planning for a record-extending 15th French Open title later this month. "It's time to take a decision," Nadal said of his fitness problem as he prepared for "the most important event" of his tennis career. The former world No. 1 addressed the "physical issues" that were bothering him and could cause the 37-year-old to miss his second Grand Slam of the season "Now [there are] two ways. Probably one is to say, OK Well, I'm not ready, I'm not playing well enough.Then there is that moment, "to make a decision in terms of not playing at Roland Garros. The second is to accept who I am today and try to be in a different way in two weeks," Nadal said as quoted by ATP. The Spaniard said he will try his best to be fit for the French Open, but he has a "decision to make," adding, "As you can imagine, this decision is not clear in my mind today. But if I had to say "What I'm feeling and if my mind is close one way or the other, I would say I will be at Roland Garros and try my best." I am playing in the most important event of my tennis career.Let's see what's happening, I will mentally feel myself tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and in a week, if I am ready, I will try to reach there and fight the things I have been fighting with for the last 15 years, Even if it seems impossible now,'' the in-form World No. 1 said, however, the disappointing conclusion to his 2024 campaign will not tarnish Nadal's memories of his exploits in Rome. ''I always say from around the world I will never be able to thank you enough for all the love and support I have received. This event here in Rome is obviously the most important event of my tennis career, one of the events that holds my heart for many reasons," Nadal said as quoted by ATP. "Here I played some of the most important matches, Beautiful match, emotional. As in many moments of my tennis career, I have been able to bounce back from difficult moments while playing here in Rome, especially in the last eight years when I came here with some doubts, then I started to play well here. Obviously, I wasn't like that today, but it really happened in the past.I really enjoyed playing on this court," he said. Nadal was playing in only his third tour-level event since returning from injury in mid-April. Despite the fact that the Spaniard is still at his best level since returning Physically, he felt his performance against Hurkacz was a false picture of how he felt "he was serving well. It was difficult for me to return. "It's hard to count yourself out without real chances of him coming back with his serve and being able to cause enough damage and make mistakes," the former No. 1 said. That is all.Just accept it. It was a tough day for me in every way because I felt more prepared than I showed up. It makes me feel bad, because [I was feeling better, [but not] able to show myself on the court... As I said before the tournament started, I'm a little more unpredictable today, the last "I haven't been able to play enough for two years," he added. Nadal missed five break chances in the first game of his first AT head2head match against Hurkacz. This later proved costly, as the Pole got behind on his serve. Compromised and took command of the match midway through the first set “I think it was obviously tough.It's clear that I made a good start to MATC. First few games, about half an hour for the first two games, got some chances and played well. Then [he] got a break, and I lost a little bit the way to push him back, the way to put so much pressure on him," reflected Nadal, who is now 70-9 in the Italian capital. "In the first set I think the score Lied a little about what the game was, then he was much better than me in the second one. I didn't have that feeling the first time, but the second, yes.I wasn't able to push him back,'' he said