“He will not go to Roland Garros to lose in the second round but…,” Uncle Toni Nadal reveals Rafael Nadal will play Roland Garros on these terms

Rafael Nadal's participation at Roland Garros is still unclear.

“He will not go to Roland Garros to lose in the second round but…,” Uncle Toni Nadal reveals Rafael Nadal will play Roland Garros on these terms

Toni Nadal and Rafael Nadal (Image via Imago)

The tennis world eagerly awaits Rafael Nadal‘s decision regarding his potential participation at Roland Garros. The ‘King of Clay’ has hinted at his availability for the year’s second major, but has yet to make an official confirmation.

In light of Nadal’s uncertainty, many members of his team and family have been constantly asked about the left-hander’s potential participation at Roland Garros. Recently, Carlos Moya stated that the decision to play in the French Open has not been finalized. Now, Toni Nadal, his uncle and former coach, has also provided insight into Nadal’s potential participation.

Toni believes that while his nephew’s participation may still be uncertain if Rafa decides to compete in Roland Garros, it will be with the intention of winning, rather than merely participating.

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After his defeat to Hubert Hurkacz in Rome, the 22-time Grand Slam winner dropped a few hints regarding his potential participation at Roland Garros. However, Nadal also acknowledged the significant transition from best-of-three sets to the more physically demanding best-of-five sets, particularly given his current fitness level.

He’s not going to drag himself, he still has confidence because of his mentality and way of being. He will not go to Roland Garros to lose in the second round, he will only go if he thinks he can win the tournament. A dream end would be to win Roland Garros and retire, but I think that if he does that he will want to continue. He would not retire. [about the 2022 Australian Open] He had had Covid-19 three days before traveling, but then he tested negative and still did not know whether to travel. In the end he decided to go, started with little preparation, and won the tournament.
Toni Nadal said as per ESPN

Nadal has secured 14 of his 22 Grand Slam victories on the red clay of Paris. While he has confirmed his participation at the Laver Cup, the prospect of his farewell tour lacking his presence at his most beloved tournament would not only disappoint his fans but also cast a shadow over the tournament itself.

Will the lack of threats favor Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros?

Many fans might interpret Toni Nadal’s statement about Rafael Nadal going to Roland Garros to win as a tactic to keep them excited. However, considering his relatively weak competition, the ‘King of Clay’ might be able to win again.

Rafael Nadal Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal (Via Imago)

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has experienced a challenging 2024, failing to secure any titles thus far, with his strongest showings being semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo. Additionally, Jannik Sinner has encountered a significant setback due to a hip problem, potentially sidelining him from Roland Garros. Furthermore, Carlos Alcaraz has been hampered by a bad elbow, causing him to miss two out of the three clay Masters 1000 tournaments.

If Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz’s situations fail to improve by the start of the French Open, why shouldn’t Nadal harbor optimism about seizing an opportunity for his 15th title in Paris? It’s clay, it’s Paris, and by now, any tennis follower should understand that one should never discount Nadal in any clay court tournament, particularly Roland Garros.

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