Rafael Nadal isn't currently able to compete on the ATP Tour, and his main rival, Novak Djokovic, admitted he misses them.
The 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters is the first ATP Masters 1000 clay-court tournament of the season, but it will be without the man who won the tournament record 11 times.
Nadal withdrew from the event, in which Djokovic is seeded first and is also considered one of the main favorites, even though he's yet to win a title in Monte Carlo since 2015.
Talking to L'Equipe ahead of the tournament, Djokovic was asked whether we'll get to see the Spaniard again on the tennis court, and he admitted that it's important for tennis to have Nadal on the court, especially since the 2024 season will likely be his last one.
"That’s the question of questions! Only he can answer that. It's important for our sport to have Rafa on court, and even more so this year, where he said it might be his last. It's a shame to see him out since the start of the year."
Still, Djokovic doesn't have any information about the Spaniard's physical state, so like for everyone else, it's not possible for him to determine the chances of Nadal coming back to sport and doing well.
Although it would mean that his chances would possibly decrease, the Serbian still wants to see his biggest rival back on the tennis court at the French Open, the tournament that the 22-time major winner won incredible 14 times throughout his career.
"I don't know where he is with his body. But who other than him has the right to do what is good for him? He is a legend of our sport. As a tennis fan, I hope he can return to his favorite clay court of Roland Garros."