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Toni Nadal sees no reason why Rafael Nadal can’t win another French Open title this year, but admits the tennis great will only return to court if he is 100% fit.
22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal has endured another injury-plagued season in 2023, including a four-match second-round loss at the Australian Open in mid-January.
He suffered a hip injury in the loss at Melbourne Park and was initially expected to be out for up to eight weeks, with a return date set for early March.
However, eight weeks have now turned into 13 weeks due to the Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters and being forced to skip. This week’s Barcelona Open.
With the French Open – always Nadal’s ultimate goal – starting on May 28, the 14-time Roland Garros champion is pressed for time.
Only two tournaments remain, the Madrid Open from April 24 to May 7 and the Italian Open from May 8 to 14.
Nadal’s former coach and uncle Tony gave an update on the 36-year-old’s fitness, saying the veteran will only return if he is 100% fit.
“I spoke to him on Saturday. And if he’s in good shape, he’ll be back 100%,» he told RMC’s Bartoli Time.
«He knows it’s not going to be good for him otherwise. He played the Australian Open without being on top. I think he wants to feel really good.
«He wants to get to Roland Garros with confidence and good physical condition. For now, we have to wait. But he still has the mindset to try to win another time.»
Last year, Nadal played just five matches in the build-up to the French Open, but still went on to earn a record-extending 14th place in Paris.
Despite challenges from Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Holger Rooney and Andrey Rublev, there seems no reason why Tony Nadal can’t do the same this year.
He added: «I said about Rafa, although he is not in the best of shape, everything will change when he steps into Philippe Chatrier’s court.
“He needs a few easy matches to step it up. I know Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Rune, Rublev are very strong. But in his mind, I also know that Rafa will win. I would like to think the same this year.
Read more: Rafael Nadal’s injury-ravaged season parallels Roger Federer’s last stand on the ATP Tour.
