Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, expressed optimism that his nephew would participate in the French Open on Tuesday but acknowledged that the record 14-time champion would not come in the best of circumstances. Toni Nadal told Spanish public station TVE, “Rafa is recovering, I think it won’t be long before he can compete again, but in the tournament here (the Madrid Open), it couldn’t be.” Rafa Nadal decided to skip Madrid last week because he was still healing from the hip injury he sustained at the Australian Open in January.
The 36-year-old put his participation in Paris in jeopardy by claiming that his recuperation was not progressing as expected and that he would try a different kind of treatment without establishing a timetable for his recovery.
At Roland Garros, when the competition gets underway on May 28, he wants to win a record-extending 23rd men’s Grand Slam title.
Because he hasn’t played a match since, I believe, January 10, Toni Nadal continued, “Obviously he won’t arrive with good preparation. We mustn’t fool ourselves.
To make a comeback at the start of the clay-court season, Nadal withdrew from the US hard-court tournaments last month. However, he also skipped the tournaments in Barcelona, Madrid, and Monte Carlo.
Toni Nadal stated, “He hasn’t played in a while, outside from that, he didn’t play much before January, but I think Rafael will pick up form shortly.
“In a Grand Slam, the draw has a significant impact. If you’re fortunate enough to draw well in the opening rounds, then, well…
Rafael is already a favorite in the second week; in the first week, he may not be, as he wasn’t in Australia last year, but starting in the second week, you can depend on him.
And I’m hoping it occurs at Roland Garros as well.
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