A continual foot subject stands out as the largest risk to Rafa Nadal’s bid for a record-extending 14th French Open trophy this month, with the damage stopping the Spaniard from rediscovering the sort of type he might want to see off a bunch of challengers.
Nadal, who can also be in search of a twenty second main title that will give him somewhat extra respiration house forward of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, had stated he thought-about retirement after lacking the majority of 2021 because of the drawback.
The 35-year-old didn’t look to have misplaced a step on the Australian Open earlier this yr, nonetheless, his triumph on Melbourne’s hardcourts giving him a document twenty first Grand Slam title to interrupt a three-way tie with Federer and Djokovic. Injury points struck once more in March when he suffered a stress fracture in his rib throughout his run to the Indian Wells remaining and the left-hander solely returned to competitors in Madrid this month.
In an additional jolt to his French Open hopes, Nadal was crushed by 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz within the Madrid quarter-finals earlier than dropping to Canadian Denis Shapovalov within the third spherical of the Rome Masters.
“I had my foot again with a lot of pain,” a annoyed Nadal advised reporters after his loss to Shapovalov. “I am a player living with an injury – it is nothing new. “Unfortunately, my day-by-day is difficult, honestly. Even like this, I am trying hard… it can be frustrating that a lot of days I can’t practice the proper way.”
Rafael Nadal celebrates his French Open fourth spherical match. (Reuters)
Any doubts about his participation within the French Open, which begins on Sunday and ends with the lads’s remaining on June 5, have been laid to relaxation when he appeared on Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday for a follow session and confirmed no indicators of discomfort.
Nadal had received the French Open 4 years in a row earlier than dropping to eventual champion Djokovic within the semi-finals final yr – simply the third time he was crushed on the claycourt main since his debut in 2005.
The Spaniard must regain his aura of invincibility shortly at Roland Garros – Djokovic appeared in peak type throughout his Rome Masters title run and Alcaraz signaled his Paris potential with claycourt triumphs in Barcelona and Madrid.
But the world quantity 5, whose achievements earned him a statue of metal at Roland Garros, ought to be thought-about the favourite if he’s match, stated 2004 French Open semi-finalist Tim Henman.
“It’s tough to call. Nadal’s foot is obviously a big question,” stated Eurosport tennis knowledgeable Henman. “I think everyone hopes that he’s going to be fit and healthy while Djokovic won last week in Rome and played very, very well… If Nadal is fit, given his record, I think you have to give him the edge.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
