When will Rafael Nadal return – this is the main question that many are asking on the eve of Roland Garros. His uncle and coach Toni Nadal doesn’t have an exact date either, and even he couldn’t shed light on the 14-time champion’s return.
Toni Nadal was a guest of Marion Bartoli on his RMC show where he discussed the opportunity to see Rafa try to defend the cup he won last year.
“I spoke to him on Saturday. And he’s only coming back in good condition, 100%. He knows it won’t be good for him otherwise. He played the Australian Open not being at his best.”
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“I think he wants to feel very good to play again. He would like to come to Roland Garros with confidence and in good physical shape. At the moment we have to wait, but he is still thinking about trying to win again. ” , said Toni Nadal.
What is really clear for Toni Nadal is that if his nephew returns, he will be the favorite for his fifteenth Roland Garros. “Even if he doesn’t arrive in the best condition when he arrives on the circuit, everything will change. He needs matches that are not too difficult to pick up the pace.”
He delayed his return three times
The 22nd Grand Slam champion still doesn’t feel competitive and announced last Friday that he won’t be on the Barcelona courts, postponing his return.
It is the third time that he has postponed his return to the courts, which adds to doubts about his fitness, a month and a half from the start of Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal, who turns 37 on June 3, has not competed since January 18, 2023, when he injured his left psoas in a second-round match at the Australian Open. After undergoing an examination, he announced that he would need six to eight weeks to recover. However, it’s been over 12 weeks and he still hasn’t returned to the game.
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Having missed the Barcelona tournament, Nadal only had the Mutua Madrid Open (April 26 to May 7) and the Rome tournament (May 10 to 21) ahead of him to prepare for Roland Garros (May 28 to May 7). June). 11). The Paris tournament is marked in red on his calendar, but it is still unclear whether he will be “100%” by then, as his uncle says, to return to competition.
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