Rafael Nadal returned to action at the Madrid Open last week after a month of injury, and the Spaniard has now raised some concerns ahead of the French Open.
Photo: Reuters)
Tennis player Rafael Nadal has described his body as an “old machine” ahead of the upcoming French Open. The Spaniard is back after a month of injury at last week’s Madrid Open.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion’s event was cut short in the quarter-finals, after losing to fellow Spaniard and eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz in a delicious draw on clay in Madrid. His return to Spain was just in time, as the French Open kicked off in a matter of weeks.
However, it appears Nadal’s fitness has not been what it used to be, after he made some worrisome comments about the condition of his body at this week’s Italian Open – hinting he could struggle at Roland Garros later this month.
He said, “When you’re six weeks without touching a racket and you have a chance to move your body…my body is like an old machine. To put that machine back on takes a while.”
“It’s not the same when you are 19 than when you are about 36, with all the issues I’ve had in my career. You need to build confidence again, your moves, and then you start to get comfortable with tennis.”
Nadal is undoubtedly a master of clay, with Madrid Open champion Alcaraz calling his countryman “the best player in history” when playing on the roof. However, the 35-year-old admitted that competition at the highest level on his preferred surface takes a toll on his body, and therefore it takes time to recover.
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He added: “It’s more about being confident in my movements, getting the pace back, getting back the way I have to play on clay and let’s see. I’m confident I can play well. I need time, but maybe this week will be a positive week, maybe not.” Who do you know?”
His claycourt experience has seen Nadal dominate the French Open throughout his career, having won a whopping 13 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros. Despite his recent struggles with his body, the 35-year-old is looking to compete in Paris later this month.
He commented, “This is my goal [to compete at the French Open]…I never had another chance to get close to clay season with the things I’ve been through. I’ll give myself a chance and we’ll see what happens.”
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