Rafael Nadal returned to Roland Garros to practice and assess his readiness to compete in the French Open, a tournament he has won 14 times. The 37-year-old Spaniard, accompanied by his coach Carlos Moya, was seen arriving by car, as shown in a video on the French Open’s official social media.
Nadal’s practice session was scheduled for 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT), allowing him to reacquaint himself with the red clay of Court Philippe Chatrier. He has not played a match there in two years and is using this time to test his fitness. With the tournament beginning on Sunday, it remains uncertain whether Nadal will enter the competition.
The uncertainty stems from Nadal’s ongoing recovery process. He has missed nearly all of 2023 due to a hip injury that required surgery and has also faced issues with a hip muscle and an abdominal muscle this season. His recent second-round loss at the Italian Open to Hubert Hurkacz (6-1, 6-3) has added to his doubts about his readiness for the French Open.
“Let’s see what’s going on, how I feel myself mentally tomorrow, after tomorrow, and in one week,” Nadal said last week at the Italian Open. “If I feel ready, I (am) going to try to be there and fight for the things that I have been fighting (for for) the last 15 years, (even) if now (that) seems impossible.”
Nadal has yet to announce whether he will play in Paris. This tournament could be his final appearance at Roland Garros, as this is expected to be his last season on tour. Nadal has won the French Open more times than any other player has won any Grand Slam title. He secured his 22nd major championship at the French Open in 2022, a record second only to Novak Djokovic’s 24.
Nadal missed last year’s French Open due to his hip injury, adding to the anticipation and uncertainty surrounding his potential return this year.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Ranked world no.276, the Spaniard played his last match on the 11th of May when he was defeated by world no.8 Hubert Hurkacz 6-1 6-3 in the 2nd round in Rome (draw).
This season Nadal has achieved a 7-4 match record.
Nadal has scheduled to compete next at the French Open (French Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 26th of May.