(Madrid) Toni Nadal, uncle and ex-coach of Rafael Nadal, told Marca radio on Friday that his nephew, who is recovering from a hip injury at the Australian Open, “will be ready for Roland-Garros », and that he is not yet thinking about retirement.
” He is fine. Obviously, he would prefer to be back in competition, but he is fine, “assured Toni Nadal on Radio Marca on the night of Thursday to Friday, while his nephew had to forfeit the Masters-1000 in Madrid (April 26 -7 May).
“He had an injury that led to some complications,” Toni Nadal slipped. According to him, “Rafa” “has to wait a bit more, but I think there’s not much left for us to see him on the courts again,” he said.
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 in competition since.
Although the duration of his unavailability was initially planned at six or eight weeks, his absence “has lengthened a little longer than what they told us”, agreed Toni Nadal.
“I believe he will be ready for Roland-Garros,” said the former coach of Rafael Nadal, who will be in contention for a potential 15th title in Paris, and a 23rd Grand Slam, which would be a men’s record .
“Afterwards, for things to go well, he would have to arrive with some preparation, and the objective is to be ready to participate in the tournament in Rome, play a little there, and then try to do something at Roland-Garros,” continued Toni Nadal, one month away from the French Open (May 28-June 11), where “Rafa” could celebrate his 37th birthday.
“No, Rafa is not thinking about retirement. He thinks about recovering well and continuing to play, because that’s what he likes,” Toni Nadal concluded.
