Toni Nadal is sure: 'Rafael will compete at Roland Garros'
Toni Nadal is confident that his long-injured nephew can defend his title at the French Open in Paris.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 28, 2023, 04:57 pm
"He will compete in Roland Garros," Toni Nadal told Spanish Marca . And apparently also at a tournament before, because "it won't be long before we can see him on the courts," said the longtime coach uncle.
Rafael Nadal sustained a left hip injury at the Australian Open, specifically to the iliopsoas muscle, the main muscle for hip flexion in the groin. At first there was talk of a break of six to eight weeks, but Nadal also had to postpone the planned starts in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. And couldn't compete in the current Masters tournament in Madrid either.
Toni Nadal had already told TV Espana on Spanish television on Tuesday that his nephew was on the mend and confident about Paris. "Of course he won't arrive with a very good preparation," he admitted, there's no need to delude yourself. But he knows how to get back into shape relatively quickly.
Nadal wants to win his 15 (!) French Open title this year.
Nadal's injury time-outs are increasing
Last year he won the last of his 22 majors, despite his chronic foot problems. Nadal suffers from Müller-Weiss syndrome , a degenerative bone disease in which the scaphoid deforms or regresses over time. Nadal's career seemed threatened at first, until a special insole was made for him - but the result is recurring knee problems.
For the victory in Paris 2022 he had his foot anaesthetized for the most part - a measure he would not repeat, as he later explained. The risk of twisting is too great. Many had expected a declaration of resignation afterwards, but a way had been found to numb the nerve more permanently. Nadal accordingly continued to compete in 2022, albeit plagued by other injuries.