It's not yet known when
Rafael Nadal will make his return to the tennis courts, but
Patrick Mouratoglou has no doubt that the Spaniard will be ready for
Roland Garros.
Nadal could still miss the Roland Garros this year, as anything is possible, but one could argue that it's the most important tournament of the year for the Spanish legend.
It's certainly the Grand Slam where his chances are largest before a single point is played, and him missing it would be a major blow to his chances of further extending his legacy.
That's why Mouratoglou thinks that Nadal will do everything in his power to be ready for the event, even if
he has to skip all the events that come before it. Nadal has been out since the start of the year due to a hip injury sustained in Melbourne.
"He knows if there is one he can win, it's this one, more than any other. So all his program, whatever he's done since the Australian Open, his number one goal is to win Roland Garros."
Nadal pulled out of the Monte-Carlo Masters this week, and his status for the upcoming events is also unknown. For Mouratoglou, it doesn't mean or matter much. Nadal will be one of the favourites in Paris even if he doesn't play a single clay match before the French Open begins.
"So he will be ready. Rafa is a player that progresses match after match. He needs matches. The older he gets, the less matches he needs because the more he's mastering his game. Most important for him will be movement, because it's the base of his game."
"Originally, a player who was defending a lot, he's not anymore. He has developed a lot of weapons. But still, movement is the base of his game."
Time will tell what will happen, but Roland Garros without Nadal would not feel the same, especially since the Spaniard has a chance to win a record-extending 15th French Open title.