Rafa Nadel, the greatest clay court player, is uncertain for this year French Open which begins in four days on 26.05.2024
Rafael Nadal is eager for the French Open, though it’s a bit different this time—he’s stepping into the ring as the underdog. But there’s a hitch: those pesky injuries are threatening to put a damper on what might be his last dance at the grand slam he’s owned for almost two decades.
The 14-time French Open champion also sat out the last edition in 2023 due to a hip injury that needed surgery. Now, he’s still on the fence about whether to take part this year or not.
He’s already declared that 2024 will mark his farewell season on the tour. Despite returning to action in January, he hit a roadblock with a minor muscle issue that slowed him down. Nevertheless, he staged another comeback during the European clay court swing.
After a second-round defeat in Barcelona, Nadal stepped up his game, surprising everyone with a remarkable run to the fourth round in Madrid, much to the delight of fans. However, in Rome, spirits were dampened by a crushing defeat to Hubert Hurkacz in his second match, casting a shadow ahead of Roland Garros.
It will be interesting to see whether Nadal, who has lost just 3 matches out of the 115 matches he has played at the French Open, will show up at the court he has owned for most of his playing career.
