Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick has expressed concerns about Rafael Nadal’s readiness for the upcoming French Open due to his withdrawal from the Italian Open in Rome. Nadal, who has not competed on the ATP tour since suffering a hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open, withdrew from the Italian Open on May 5, marking his first absence from the Masters 1000 event since 2004.
Roddick’s worries about Nadal’s ability to compete
Roddick shared his worries on Tennis Channel, questioning the Spaniard’s ability to compete at Roland Garros while still suffering from ongoing injuries. Roddick wondered if Nadal would want to come back with an injury on a slippery clay court.
Concerns about Nadal’s recovery and increasing injuries
The former tennis champion also expressed concern about Nadal’s ability to recover from his injuries due to his age and the increasing frequency of the injuries. Roddick hoped that Nadal’s withdrawal from the Rome Masters was a precautionary measure and that the 22-time Grand Slam champion would be fully recovered for the French Open.
Defending Nadal against negative headlines
Roddick has also recently criticized a news article’s headline for detailing Rafael Nadal’s drop in the ATP rankings in a negative manner after his withdrawal from the Rome Masters. Roddick called the headline “dumb” and “stupid,” defending Nadal by saying the tennis player does everything right, and will “never have humiliating associated with his life.”
