Mats Wilander confident Rafael Nadal will be fit for French Open - 'We're going to see him in Paris'
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Published 20/03/2024 at 20:01 GMT
Eurosport expert Mats Wilander is confident Rafael Nadal will be fit in time to go for a record-extending 15th French Open title in May. The Spaniard hasn't played competitively since January's Brisbane International after suffering an injury setback. He pulled out of Indian Wells but Wilander believes he will be ready to compete at Roland Garros as he bids for a 23rd Grand Slam.
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Mats Wilander believes "we haven't seen the last" of Rafael Nadal despite the Spaniard's ongoing injury problems.
Nadal made his long-awaited return after nearly 12 months out at the Brisbane International but suffered a setback during his third-round defeat against Jordan Thompson that ruled him out of the Australian Open.
It was hoped he would feature at Indian Wells after taking on Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match in Las Vegas but he withdrew from the Masters 1000 event, admitting he still wasn't "ready to play at the highest level".
After also skipping the Miami Open, there is an expectation Nadal could next feature at the Monte Carlo Masters, a tournament he has won 11 times.
The 37-year-old is no stranger to extended spells on the sidelines and has conceded this could be his final year on tour but Wilander believes his determination to carry on will see him go for a record-extending 15th title at Roland Garros.
"When you see that match in Las Vegas and you see that Rafa is out and he's been practicing, he's playing golf and all that, you think, 'Okay, well he must be healthy'. And then when he pulls out, it's also clear that, no, he isn't healthy," Wilander told Eurosport.
"There's no chance that if Rafa goes to Indian Wells early just like he did to Australia, when he went to Brisbane - and he was looking really good in a couple of matches, and then he has to pull out - it's not like he's scared, he's injured.
"And with this problem, 'I cannot: A) win too many matches, B) I can make it worse. And that's not why I'm here. That's not why I'm playing tennis. I would like to get a couple of matches under my belt'.
"The courts in Indian Wells, they are perfect for Rafa, if you're talking about hard court. So it's very disappointing.
"He does show signs of wanting to come back really badly, which is why I do think we're going to see him in Paris.
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"And if we don't, it's only going to be because he has a little bit of an injury and he doesn't want to make it worse. Why? Because he's still looking ahead to the future.
"Is this the last year for Rafa? Maybe. Most probably. I'm not sure, but certainly we haven't seen the last of him playing a competitive match when he's feeling 100%. I think he's still waiting for that moment."
As for when it will be clear Nadal is gearing up for the second Grand Slam of the year, Wilander said it all hinges on his performances when the clay-court season begins.
"When I think he'll be ready for Roland Garros is either when he pulls out of the Italian Open, because he's done well in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid (if he plays), or when he wins a couple of matches at the Italian Open because he's done well in the previous three weeks on clay," Wilander added.
"I think that's always been the case.
"He's always done unbelievably well in Rome but that is the clay court tournament out of all of them where he's actually done the worst.
"And some of it has to do with being a little tired. Some of it has to do with, 'I have enough confidence - I just can't push myself to play another two, three matches at this particular moment’.
"They seem to always coincide with the Italian Open in Rome. But I think that tournament, if he doesn't play, if he played before, then that's a good sign.
"If he does play, even if he played before, then that's a good sign. So I think that the answer will come around that time, in my mind."
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