Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni Nadal is optimistic his cousin will play at the French Open, but admitted on Tuesday that the 14-time record champion will not arrive under ideal circumstances. “Rafa is recovering, I think it won’t be long before he can compete again, but in the tournament here (the Madrid Open) you can’t,” Toni Nadal told Spanish public broadcaster TVE . Rafa Nadal announced last week that he would not take part in Madrid as he is still recovering from the hip injury he sustained in January at the Australian Open.
The 36-year-old said recovery was not going as planned and he would try a new kind of treatment, without setting a deadline for himself to heal, casting doubt on his participation in Paris.
He hopes to clinch a record-extending 23rd men’s Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, with the tournament starting May 28.
“Obviously he won’t arrive with good preparation, we shouldn’t kid ourselves because I think obviously he hasn’t played any games since January 10,” added Toni Nadal.
Nadal pulled out of last month’s hard court tournaments in the US, with his sights set on a return at the start of the clay-court season, but it failed to come to fruition, missing the Barcelona and Madrid events, as well as Monte Carlo.
“He hasn’t competed for quite some time, apart from that he didn’t compete much before January either, but I think Rafael will be back in shape soon,” continued Toni Nadal.
“In a Grand Slam, it depends a lot on the draw. If you’re lucky enough to have a good draw in the first rounds, then… well.
“Rafael is already the favorite in the second week, in the first week he may not have been lately. Last year he was not in Australia, but from the second week you say well, we can count on him.
“And I hope the same thing happens at Roland Garros.”
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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