 "Rafael Nadal not '100% certain' it is his final French Open")
Rafael Nadal has not ruled out a return to the French Open even though it is likely he's playing his last at Roland Garros in Paris. The Spaniard has won the tournament a record 14-times and has a 112-3 win-loss record on the Parisian red dirt. He labelled the tournament a “magical place”.
“It’s a big, big chance that this is going to be my last Roland Garros, but if I have to tell you it’s 100% my last Roland Garros, sorry, but I will not, because I cannot predict what’s going on. I hope you understand,” said the Spaniard.
Nadal, who will celebrate his 38th birthday on 3 June, faces world number four Alexander Zverev in the first round on Monday.
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The Spanish legend first won the French Open in 2005 on his debut, when he was just 19. The latest came in 2022 when he triumphed despite the need to have his left foot anaesthetized to numb the pain caused by Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a chronic condition that has afflicted him since he was 18.
He has 22 Grand Slam titles – second only to Novak Djokovic’s 24 on the all-time men’s list – but his career has been plagued by injuries.
Nadal has played just four tournaments since January last year after suffering a hip injury and then a muscle tear. In the two seasons he’s played just 15 matches.
As a result, his ranking has slumped to 276 in the world and comes into the French Open unseeded.
“I have been going through a long process of recovery with a very difficult injury, almost two years of suffering, but I feel better now. I have fewer limitations than three, four weeks ago, without a doubt. So in a way I don’t want to close the door 100%,” added Nadal. “I love tennis, I travel with my family and we are all happy.”
Nadal had to sit out the 2023 French Open through injury.
“So give me some time. Maybe in one month and a half I say, okay, it’s enough, I can’t keep going, but today in some way I cannot guarantee that that’s going to be the last one. But of course it’s a big chance.”
Nadal comes into the French Open having yet to make a clay-court quarter-final this season. In Rome, he was beaten in straight sets by Hubert Hurkacz in the second round.
“I feel competitive in training. Maybe not in an official match, but when I enter the court, I feel like I can beat anyone,” he said.
Nadal holds a 7-3 winning record over Zverev and has won five of six matches on clay, including a semi-final triumph at 2022 Roland Garros when the German was forced to quit with ankle ligament damage.
In Paris this week, Nadal has practised in front of packed courts .
He hit with fellow former champion Stan Wawrinka who described Nadal as “strong as ever”.
Fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev, who trained with him on Thursday, said he was happy not to face him in the first round.
“This place is magical for me. If in the bottom of my heart, I didn’t have any hope to have success here and to create a beautiful thing this year, I would not be here in front of you guys,” added Nadal.
“So I still have the motivation and a small, at least is a small hope to play well.”
And if 2024 turns out to be Nadal’s French Open farewell?
“I just can say thanks to all the love I received from all the players, from the organisers, from the tournaments, from all the community of tennis and sport.
“I feel very proud that probably I leave a positive legacy there.”
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