Rafael Nadal, the renowned tennis champion, has been dealt a heartbreaking blow as his dreams of clinching a remarkable 15th men’s singles title at the French Open have been shattered due to an injury. The 36-year-old Spaniard has been sidelined since January after sustaining a hip flexor injury during the Australian Open.
This unfortunate setback has caused him to slide to 14th place in the ATP rankings. In a press conference held at his academy in Manacor, Nadal expressed his deep disappointment, stating that the progression of his injury has not gone according to his hopes. Regrettably, participating in Roland Garros, where he secured his 14th title just last year, is now out of the question.
Devastated by the circumstances, Nadal emphasized the significance of the French Open in his career and the immense difficulty he feels in being unable to compete. Looking ahead, he shared that he has no immediate plans for the following months and will not rush his return to the court. Instead, he intends to allow his body the necessary time to recover.
While he did not set a specific timeline, he acknowledged that it could take as long as three months, effectively ruling out his participation at this year’s Wimbledon. With a heavy heart, Nadal expressed his focus on patiently monitoring his body’s response, holding hope that he may be able to make a comeback before the end of the year, specifically aiming for the Davis Cup.
