MADRID – Rafael Nadal said on April 24 that he is not sure if he will be able to play at the May 26-June 9 French Open, after pushing through the pain barrier in his latest comeback from injury.
The Spanish veteran, 37, conceded that he will be in Paris for the second Grand Slam of the year only if he feels “capable enough to compete well”.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion also said that if the French Open were to kick off today, he would not be able to participate.
But he vowed to keep fighting for the chance to play at his most successful tournament one last time.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next three weeks,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion said at the ongoing Madrid Open, ahead of his match against American Darwin Blanch.
“I will keep fighting and doing the things I believe I have to do so I can try to play in Paris. If I can play, I play. If I can’t, I can’t. I will not play in Paris if I am the way I am now.
“If Paris were today, I wouldn’t take to the court. That’s the reality.”
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said on April 25 that she has her “fingers crossed” that Nadal will be at Roland Garros but added that he is unlikely to be seeded.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for him, but also for us because we want to welcome him here to Roland Garros,” the two-time Grand Slam winner told a press conference.
“He is at home (here) and he knows it. Knowing whether there will be a tribute (to Nadal) or not, this year, next year, is very dependent on him and the decisions he takes.
“We’re waiting to see and we will follow his wishes.”
However, with no seeding, Nadal could be drawn against top players in the early rounds of the tournament.
Until 2020, Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slams that did not stick to the ATP and WTA rankings, opting instead to also factor in a player’s past performances on grass.
Wimbledon’s seeding formula was criticised by players, including Nadal, before it was abandoned.
Asked about Nadal being seeded at the 2024 French Open, Mauresmo said: “Right now it’s not a topic... It’s not on the table.”
Nadal, who has said he expects to retire after the 2024 season, returned to competitive tennis in Brisbane in January after spending almost an entire year on the sidelines nursing a hip injury.
But his comeback was short-lived, as he then suffered a muscle problem in Australia and has competed in just five ATP Tour matches this season.
The Spaniard kicked off his clay campaign in Barcelona last week, losing in the second round. He faced 16-year-old Blanch in his Madrid opener on April 25, with the result unavailable at press time.
“I am a competitive person and it is difficult to play without being able to give my best. If you ask me if I was happy in Barcelona, I say no, I wasn’t happy,” Nadal added.
“That’s why I want to try to go out and play in Paris, feeling capable enough to compete well.
“I don’t think I’m ready to play at my 100 per cent now, but I’m prepared to go out and play (against Blanch).
“It’s important for me to play one last time here in Madrid, for me, it means a lot.”
As he attempts to resume his “Last Dance” in Madrid and say goodbye to one of his favourite tournaments on court, rather than on the sidelines, he admitted that his farewell tour has not been as enjoyable as he would have hoped.
But he will take all that he can.
“A few weeks ago, I didn’t know if I will be able to play again on the professional tour. But today I am playing,” he said.
“It’s not perfect, of course not perfect, but at least I am playing and I can enjoy again, especially in the few tournaments that are so emotional for me. I’m able to enjoy the fact that I can say probably goodbye on court.
“We’ll see what happens, but the world doesn’t end even if I don’t play at Roland Garros. I also have the Olympic Games (this summer in Paris) ahead of me.”
When asked specifically about his current condition, Nadal said he is hitting the ball well when he is able to be on court but “it’s about more body limitations”.
“I went through a lot of things last year and a half, two years,” he explained.
“So the feelings are not enough good... to feel myself playing with freedom in terms of body issues. That’s not allowing me to compete the way that I would like to compete.” AFP, REUTERS
