By the end of the previous year, Nadal had only participated in nine matches, and he was unable to start over in 2023.
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Rafael Nadal is someone who Feliciano Lopez, the director of the Madrid Masters tournament, would love to see in the draw. Lopez hopes to see Nadal back in action as soon as possible despite his ongoing hip injury. Feliciano worries about his close friend, who has endured a year of pain from injuries. Lopez encourages his countryman and Davis Cup teammate to play again soon so he can perform at his peak at Roland Garros.
By the end of the year, Nadal had only participated in nine matches, and he was unable to start over in 2023. Rafa dropped both of his United Cup contests and lacked both confidence and rhythm going into the Australian Open. The Spaniard’s left hip injury in the second round against Mackenzie McDonald made matters worse. He was defeated by Mackenzie in straight sets, and it is still the final contest for a grand champion. In an effort to return in Madrid and Rome and regain his rhythm before Roland Garros, Nadal skipped Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona.
“I worry more as a friend. About his tennis, let’s see if Rafa can arrive at Roland Garros prepared; that’s his main objective,” Lopez said as per tennisowlrdusa.org. But it worries me more on a personal level. A player who has been succeeding all his life is now going through this. Hopefully, he will recover soon, and it will be great if he can compete in Madrid. People are waiting for him in Madrid; they want to see him playing. The people of Madrid always give him a lot of love every time he plays, so I’m worried that this problem will last a little longer.”
“I hope Rafa’s injury will not be that bad, and we can see him on the court in a week or two. After having Rafa, our greatest player ever, Carlos Alcaraz’s rise is a miracle. Spanish sport could not be more grateful. We are talking about a teenager who won a Major and became world no. 1, and I do not know how many players can say that for themselves.”
Rafael Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros winner, Novak Djokovic, a 2-time Roland Garros champion, and Carlos Alcaraz top the entry list, which was made public on Tuesday. At the clay-court major, where the Spaniard has compiled a record of 112-3, Nadal will attempt to add to his long list of victories. Last year, the lefty won his 14th clay Grand Slam by defeating four players who were ranked in the Top 10. The No. 1 player in the rankings right now, Novak Djokovic, won on the Parisian clay in 2016 and 2021. Serbian has an 85-16 record in the competition.
Alcaraz will make his third main draw appearance at Roland Garros in an effort to win his second major championship. When he reached the quarterfinals of the competition last year, the Spaniard had his longest run at the competition. In addition to 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Monte-Carlo champion Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, and 2015 Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka, Casper Ruud, last year’s finalist, will try to advance this year.
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Alexander Shevchenko, who is ranked 98 in the world, is currently in the field. Dominic Thiem, a two-time finalist and former World No. 3, is the third alternate. Fabio Fognini, a former Top 10 performer, is the fifth alternate.
