Despite the cancellation of the Masters 1000 tournament in Monte-Carlo next week, Toni Nadal still expects Rafael Nadal to make a comeback.
“Rafa has problems when serving, otherwise he has no problems,” said Rafael Nadal’s uncle, according to the Spanish sports newspaper Marca. He is therefore confident that the 22-time Grand Slam champion can take part in the tournaments in Barcelona and Madrid this month.
With a view to the French Open in Paris at the end of May, this is also urgently needed, said Toni Nadal, who was Rafael Nadal’s coach for a long time. “Either you go there 100 percent or better not take part. Playing a tournament in advance is important in order to have a good Roland Garros,” said Toni Nadal.
Rafael Nadal (37) had previously announced his cancellation of the first important clay court tournament of the season in Monte-Carlo next week, fueling speculation that his career would soon end. “My body just doesn’t allow it,” wrote the former world number one on X, the former Twitter.
Nadal canceled all tournament participation after the Australian Open in January 2023 due to a long-term hip injury. This year, the Spaniard made his comeback before the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Brisbane, but was injured again there and has not played a match since.
The Spaniard had already announced last year that 2024 would most likely be his last year on the tennis tour. In addition to the French Open, Nadal has set the Olympic Games in Paris as a major goal of his supposed farewell season.
