Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, is optimistic that his nephew will play at the French Open but admitted on Tuesday that the record 14-time champion would not be coming under ideal conditions. “Rafa is recovering, I think it won’t take long before he can compete again, but here in the tournament (Madrid Open) it could not happen,” Toni Nadal told Spanish public broadcaster TVE. Rafa Nadal announced he would not take part in Madrid last week as he is recovering from a hip injury suffered in January at the Australian Open.
The 36-year-old said recovery was not going as planned and he would try a new type of treatment without setting a time frame for his recovery, casting doubt on his participation in Paris.
He will be hoping to clinch a record-extending 23rd men’s Grand Slam title at Roland Garros with the tournament starting on May 28.
Toni Nadal said, “Obviously he won’t come with a good preparation, we shouldn’t fool ourselves, because obviously, since January 10 I think he hasn’t played a match.”
Nadal had last month pulled out of hard-court tournaments in the US, with his sights set on a return at the start of the clay-court season, but it did not materialise, having missed events in Barcelona and Madrid as well as Monte Carlo. remembered. ,
Tony Nadal continued, “He hasn’t competed for a long time, besides, before January, he didn’t compete much, but I think Rafael will regain his form soon.”
“In a Grand Slam, it depends a lot on the draw. If you’re lucky enough to get a good draw in the first round, then… well.
“Rafael is already a favorite in the second week, in the first week, recently he is not, he was not in Australia last year, but from the second week, you say well, we can count on him .
“And I hope to do the same at Roland Garros.”
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