Rafael Nadal, the legendary 22-time Grand Slam champion, has sparked concerns about his participation in the upcoming French Open due to a persistent muscle injury. Addressing the media ahead of his return to the Madrid Open, Nadal admitted that he is still not fully recovered and is unsure if he will be able to compete in his beloved tournament.
The Spanish great, who has won a record 14 Roland Garros titles, emphasized that his focus is on feeling competitive rather than simply participating. “If I arrive in Paris the way I feel today, I won’t play. I’ll play Roland Garros if I feel competitive. It won’t be the end of the world or the end of my career. I still have goals after Roland Garros, like the Olympics,” Nadal stated in Madrid.
Nadal’s injury has plagued him since his return to action from a long layoff earlier in the year. He has played only five competitive matches on the tour in the past year and missed the Australian Open as well as the hard-court swing in the US. The muscle injury has also prevented him from competing in the Monte Carlo Masters and forced him to withdraw from the second round of the Barcelona Open earlier this month.
Despite the setbacks, Nadal remains determined to give it his all in Madrid and work towards improving his fitness before the French Open. “The goal is to finish the tournament alive, in physical terms. Madrid has given me everything, so… we’ll see. In sport, things can change very quickly. If I’m not there to try to make it change, the change won’t happen. But I’m here giving myself a chance, to see if I find better feelings… and I have to be prepared if I’m at home it doesn’t happen. If I don’t lose hope. “If I stay there, nothing tells me that the situation won’t change in a few weeks. I’m here to give myself a chance and be ready if that change happens,” he said.
Nadal has earned direct entry into the French Open main draw via protected rankings, a rule that allows injured players to use their previous ranking to qualify. However, the Spanish legend is aware that time is running out, as he hinted that 2024 could be his last season on tour. The French Open will take place from May 20th to June 9th, and Nadal’s fans will be eagerly monitoring his progress in the lead-up to the tournament.
