Finally some reassuring news from Rafael Nadal, as Roland-Garros is fast approaching. According to his uncle Toni, the Spanish player and multiple winner at Porte d’Auteuil should be able to defend his title at the end of May in Paris. As for his level, however, that’s another story.
“Rafael is in the process of healing, he does not miss much for him to return to competition. But it was not possible for him to be present at this tournament [à Madrid]. It’s one of the tournaments that excites him the most, but we’ll have to wait another year” to see him at the Madrid Masters 1000, Toni Nadal said in a brief interview with TVE.
“If you are lucky enough to have an accessible draw…”
“Obviously he will not arrive with very good preparation [à Roland Garros], we must not hide our face. I believe he hasn’t played a game since January 10, and before that he hadn’t played much competitively either. But I believe that Rafael knows how to get back into shape quite quickly, ”added Toni Nadal, optimistic.
“In a Grand Slam tournament, a lot depends on the draw. If you are lucky enough to have a fairly accessible draw in the first rounds, after…”, specified the coach of Rafael Nadal.
“Rafael, in the second week, he is still one of the favorites. In the first week, lately, he really isn’t. He wasn’t in Australia, but in the second week, you start thinking “well, maybe we have to reckon with him…”. And we hope we can say the same thing at Roland Garros, ”said Toni Nadal.
Rafa dreams of a 23rd title
Nadal, 36, suffered a psoas (hip flexor) injury at the Australian Open in January, and has had to withdraw from all competitions he has been scheduled to play since then.
“I was originally supposed to be out for between six and eight weeks, but we’re already heading towards the fourteenth […] The situation is not what we had hoped for. We followed all the medical prescriptions, but for some unknown reason the injury did not evolve as we were told,” the Spaniard said in a video released on Thursday to announce his withdrawal from Madrid.
Nadal, tied with Novak Djokovic at the top of the number of Grand Slam titles won (22), will try to get a 23rd coronation at the French Open. “We dream of that, we the family, and him too. I think he has the mind to go get it, ”concluded Toni Nadal on Tuesday.