"Wouldn't be surprised if Rafa came up with some ridiculous level once again" - Ruud on Roland Garros
ATPThursday, 16 March 2023 at 05:30
Updated at Thursday, 16 March 2023 at 00:59
Dominic Thiem and Casper Ruud have both recently said that they believe Rafael Nadal is still the man to beat at Roland Garros this year, despite the Spaniard barely playing this year.
Nadal's perennial position as the favourite for the Roland Garros is under some doubt this year. The Spaniard has barely played tennis this year after suffering a hip injury in the second round of the Australian Open.
Prior to that, Nadal was on a worrying run of poor form, suffering 5 losses from 9 matches across the final four months of last year.
His clay-court participation is still something of a question mark, although there are now some positive signs emerging from the Nadal camp as he looks set to play the first event of that stretch at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Speaking to Barbara Schett on the Eurosport 'Ruud Talk' show, clay-court connoisseurs Casper Ruud and Dominic Thiem both still believe that Rafa goes into the Roland Garros as the favourite.
Novak will still be the man to beat in the Grand Slams in 2023. The only tournament is Roland Garros if Rafa is fit it's exactly the opposite. He's the man to beat.- Thiem on Rafa's chances at Roland Garros 2023
The final last year with me was obviously not very enjoyable score wise for me, but the match against Novak as well in the quarter final was, if you asked me a joke, I was watching it from the bed and just the level. It's just incredible. I still feel like if Dominic or I shouldn't, you know, root for ourself, I think we both can say that we wouldn't be surprised if Rafa came up with some ridiculous level once again, and won his 15th time.- Ruud on Rafa
It wouldn't surprise me because he just will probably use these weeks and these months as he's preparing for Roland Garros. It doesn't matter if he loses Monte Carlo or if he loses in Rome or Madrid. The only thing that is probably on his mind these days is just be fit, be healthy, and be ready for Roland Garros.- Ruud on Nadal
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