Tennis fans around the world are expressing their worry and disappointment following Rafael Nadal’s announcement regarding the possibility of not participating in Roland Garros this season. Nadal is scheduled to play at the Madrid Open against young powerhouse Darwin Blanch. Injuries have plagued Nadal’s 2024 season comeback, with multiple setbacks each time he appeared to be on the path to recovery. His match against Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open highlighted the fact that Nadal has yet to regain his full court coverage capabilities.
In a press conference prior to the Madrid Open, Nadal hinted that his current physical state may not be ideal for competing in the French Open. He mentioned that skipping Roland Garros would not impact his legacy and would provide him more time to focus on the upcoming Paris Olympics. “If I arrive in Paris the way I feel today, I will not play. I will play Roland Garros if I feel competitive. If I can play, I play. If I can’t play, I can’t. It won’t be the end of the world or the end of my career. I still got goals after Roland Garros, like the Olympics,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Fans expressed their disappointment regarding Nadal’s potential absence from the French Open this year, with some accusing him of engaging in “theatrics.”
Rafael Nadal has previously stated that the 2024 season would be his last on the ATP Tour, with the Paris Olympics being the primary tournament he plans to participate in during his farewell season. Nadal has won gold medals for Spain in both singles and doubles, making him a strong candidate for potential wildcard entry to the event, despite his current ATP ranking of No. 512.
