By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Roland Garros’ crimson clay is Rafael Nadal’s career-defining floor.
The king of clay’s efficiency throughout clay season, peaking at Roland Garros, will decide his future, some former champions say.
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The 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal withdrew from the Australian Open because of a minor muscle tear close to his surgically-repaired hip.
Speaking to Spanish sports web site MARCA, former French Open finalist Alex Corretja stated if Nadal is wholesome and delivers the extent he did in Brisbane, not solely is the 14-time French Open champion a risk to win Paris, he may choose to increase his profession previous 2024.
“If Rafa is in good health, it will be difficult for him to retire,” Corretja advised MARCA. “They take away your injuries or your level, and if he doesn’t have any injuries, the level has already picked him up again.
“The query is how his physique will face up to so many breaks and begin once more. Their stage does not depart me in any doubt. If after a yr he has been capable of play with the fluidity of Brisbane, when he has performed 10 video games he will probably be at 70 or 80 per cent of his stage. And with 15 matches, he’s a candidate to win Roland Garros.”
While Corretja envisions a wholesome Nadal reworking the terre battue right into a launching pad, former world No. 1 John McEnroe says the French Open might be the end line for the 37-year-old Spanish celebrity if he continues to be dogged by damage.
“I think Rafa was hoping, ‘hopefully I’ll be ready for the French, see if my body holds up there,’ ” McEnroe advised the media on an ESPN Zoom name this week. “If it doesn’t, I think you’ll see him not play anymore.
“We’re all clearly hopeful he can as a result of Rafa has been superb for the sport. We’d wish to see him so long as we will.”
Photo credit score: Bradley Kanaris/Getty
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