(Madrid) Rafael Nadal, 14 times crowned at Roland-Garros, but hampered this season by a hip injury contracted at the Australian Open in January, will announce Thursday afternoon whether or not he will participate in the French Open which begins next week (May 22-June 11).
“Tomorrow (Thursday, editor’s note), Rafa Nadal will hold a press conference at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. Eastern). His decision to participate or not in Roland-Garros will then be communicated as well as the reasons for his choice, whatever it is, “said the Spaniard early Wednesday evening in a statement sent to the press.
Nadal, 36, suffered a psoas (hip flexor) injury in the second round of the Australian Open on January 18, losing to American Mackenzie McDonald in three sets. He has not played since in competition, notably missing the tournaments in Madrid and Rome.
“I had a big injury in Australia (January), psoas. I was supposed to be absent between six and eight weeks at first, but we are already heading towards the fourteenth […] The situation is not what we had hoped for. We followed all the medical prescriptions, but for some unknown reason, the injury did not evolve as we had been told at the beginning and we ended up in a difficult situation,” Nadal explained in a video posted on his social media on April 20.
“I think he will be ready for Roland-Garros,” said tennis player Toni Nadal’s uncle and former coach on April 28. “No, Rafa is not thinking about retirement,” he also assured.
If he participates in Roland-Garros, Rafael Nadal will be in the running for a potential 15th title in Paris, and a 23rd Grand Slam, which would be a record for men.
