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Carlos Alcaraz believes Rafael Nadal will be «difficult to beat» despite his maturity due to his ongoing injury problems at Roland Garros.
Nadal has been unable to compete on clay this year as he struggled with an injury suffered in January last season when he lost in the second round of the Australian Open.
After pulling out of the Monte Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open and this week’s Madrid Open, Nadal only has the Italian Open – which starts on May 8 – a handful of matches under his belt before the French Open in late May.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner has started posting regular updates on social media about his practice matches on clay, but it remains to be seen whether he will play at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome as well as the clay-court Grand Slam. Paris.
He played five matches on clay before finishing 14th in a record-extending Roland Garros last year, and many – including Alcaraz – believe he can pull off the same feat this year.
«He is one of the best in history and we want to see him in every tournament. I say that as a player and a tennis lover, I love watching him compete and learning from him,» the world No.2 said.
“It’s a pity that we haven’t been able to see him in competitions all these months. We hope that it will be in Rome and then in Roland Garros, where he will be a rival to win. A 14-time winner who has not played since Australia will find it difficult to win in that tournament even if he comes without a match rhythm.
«Also, it will be difficult for him, tennis needs a competitive rhythm, but Rafa is Rafa, even if he comes without many matches, he will definitely show an amazing level.»
Nadal has dropped to 14th place in the ATP rankings due to his performance this season and could drop out of the world’s top 100 if he fails to participate in this year’s French Open.
It can be remembered that the teenager finished 5th in last year’s cup competition, but considering that he is in 14th place, this year’s competition may be separated by a draw.
Read more: Rafael Nadal’s injury update adds to the mystery of his French Open hopes
