Rafael Nadal has addressed concerns about his participation in the upcoming French Open, dismissing the idea that it would be a disaster if he were to miss the tournament for the second year in a row. Nadal, who holds a record 14 French Open titles, had to skip last year’s event due to injury—the same issue that may signal the end of his time on the ATP Tour in 2024.
Although fans are eager for Nadal to compete in the clay-court event one last time, the 22-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that skipping Roland Garros would not signal the end of his career, as the Paris Olympics are upcoming, and he has plenty to look forward to. Nadal returned to action at the Barcelona Open last week and will participate in the Madrid Open this week as he continues his preparations for the French Open.
In a press conference ahead of the Madrid event, Nadal expressed his desire to compete in the French Open but acknowledged that he may not be ready, stating: “If it is possible, it is possible and if not, I will not go to Paris if I (don’t) feel qualified enough to compete.”
