Rafael Nadal may be mulling over an unexpected comeback at an ATP 250 event, in a bid to reclaim his rhythm ahead of Roland Garros.
The Spanish King of Clay, known for his gritty determination and relentless pursuit of excellence, is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. His recent hip injury, suffered during the Australian Open, led to an unanticipated break from the sport, marking his longest absence from competitive tennis in years.
This injury has seen him withdraw from not only the Italian Open, but also the Monte-Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, and Madrid Open, all pivotal clay-court tournaments in the lead-up to the Roland Garros.
Given the gravity of Nadal's absence, tennis fans have been left speculating on the champion's return. His decision to skip the Italian Open – traditionally the last clay-court rendezvous before the Roland Garros – added fuel to the whispers of concern.
Yet, the recent revelation from two-time Roland Garros finalist Alex Corretja might provide a glimmer of hope for Nadal's fans worldwide. Speaking to Eurosport, Corretja expressed his surprise over Nadal's decision, yet remained hopeful about the 14-time Roland Garros champion's return.
He suggested that Nadal could consider participating in an ATP 250 event the week before the French Open, giving him an opportunity to get some crucial match practice and regain his confidence on the court.
There are two ATP 250 events, with one being the 2023 Geneva Open, while the other is the 2023 Lyon Open. Although both are the lowest ATP-level events, they could serve as a great source of preparation for the Spaniard.
"We need to wait, there’s still a little bit of time. I was thinking maybe he could play the week before and get some matches. But I didn’t expect that one from Rome."
Nadal's decision to pull out of the 2023 Madrid Open surprised the fellow Spaniard but he was certainly even more surprised when Nadal withdrew from the Italian Open.
"I was surprised already when he pulled out from Madrid, but this one, everybody was saying he was pretty much OK to play, he’s practicing, and unfortunately, he said no so that means he still needs more time."
While many are discussing how will Nadal fare without playing any matches, Corretja is not worried about that, focusing on the physical preparation and readiness of the 22-time major winner.
"I think he’s capable to get the rhythm in a few matches. I’m not concerned about the playing or not playing, I’m more concerned physically – how is he going to recover from matches? Not from this injury, from other ones that can come up."
"When you don’t play for such a long time it’s so difficult because of all the things that can happen. I hope he can have a little bit of preparation for the tournament before, because if he plays two or three matches at Roland Garros, for two and a half or three hours… He can be ready for sure, he’s Rafa."
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