WATCH: Rafael Nadal sweats hard in practice on clay to avoid missing French Open for the first time in 19 years
Rafael Nadal generates hope for awaited comeback as seen practicing on court with just two weeks remaining before the French Open.
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Rafael Nadal( Credits: @rnadalacademy/Twitter)
Rafael Nadal is gearing up for his awaited comeback on the court since his hip injury in January. With the latest video of the Spaniard practicing, fans are hoping that the French Open defending champion will sooner grace the surface.
The World No.14 had a bitter end to his Australian Open run after he lost in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald. With the persisting injury problems, he went on to withdraw from the ATP Tours of Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona. His recent update on missing the Italian Open filled the fans with worry that he might miss the Roland Garros.
As the French Open starts in two weeks, the 14 times French Open champion was seen practicing at the Rafa Nadal Academy. This has provided the fans with hope of seeing him play again on his favourite surface.
On the other hand, Nadal’s greatest on-court rival and off-court friend, Roger Federer stated that he hoped to see him in Paris. The 20 times Grand Slam champion said that the Spaniard’s absence will be a ‘brutal’ blow at the Grand Slam.
“It would be brutal, it would be tough for tennis if Rafa isn’t going to be there. I still hope so, I saw he pulled out of Rome so I wish him the best”, he spoke to Sky Sports at the Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix. The 22 times Grand Slam champion has constantly competed at the French Open since his maiden title in 2005. He holds the highest match-winning percentage of 91.3% on the clay surface.
Rafael Nadal is still in the race of potential contenders at the Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal might have been out of the ATP Tours since january, but he is very much in the race for the Grand Slam title. The 14 times Roland Garros champion is expected to have another magical run after his Australian Open triumph in 2022.
The ‘King of clay’ has not appeared on any tournaments since his hip injury in January. With back-to-back withdrawls in Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, the Spaniard has not played a single season’s match on the clay. The critics are raising specualtions regarding his ‘early retirement’ from the sport.
With no official update about his withdrawl, Nadal is anticipated to defend his title at the Grand Slam. However, the competition will not be an easy one for the defending champion. Novak Djokovic will be aiming for his 23rd Grand Slam title, while Carlos Alcaraz is currently ‘unstoppable’ and ‘unbeatable’ on the clay. Even the contenders like Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev, will pose huge hurdles on the road to championship.
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Vitasta Singh
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