Rafael Nadal ruled out of French Open 2023: Mats Wilander urges stars to step up - 'This is your chance'
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Published 19/05/2023 at 11:54 GMT
With Rafael Nadal having withdrawn from the 2023 French Open, Mats Wilander has urged other emerging stars to seize the opportunity in his absence. Nadal had been desperately trying to get healthy enough to compete at the tournament he has famously won 14 times in his decorated career, but on Thursday he confirmed that he would not be able to participate at Roland-Garros after all.
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Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has given his reaction to the big news that Rafael Nadal will not be participating in the 2023 French Open after he made his announcement ahead of the second Grand Slam of the season.
Wilander, who won the French Open on three occasions in his illustrious career, shared his thoughts on the 'King of Clay' being unable to take part in Paris this year as he continues to battle injuries and search for full fitness.
Nadal, who has a record 14 Roland-Garros crowns and 22 Grand Slam singles titles to his name, is hoping to make an eagerly anticipated appearance in Paris next year after not managing to be ready in time for this upcoming edition of the clay-court event.
For Wilander, the tournament is not going to be the same without the 36-year-old, but it now represents a huge opportunity for one of the rising stars in the men's game to seize the opportunity to claim the title in his absence.
"The French Open is just not the same now that Rafael Nadal has decided not to play," Wilander told Eurosport in reaction to the big news.
"The winner is always going to be questioned about if they could have won it if Nadal was in the tournament.
"The positive part of the announcement that Rafa made is that, of course, he is still thinking about playing at least another season.
"We wish for him to play forever, and to play at Roland-Garros forever; but at the same time, I don't want to see him come to Paris and not be 100%, not feeling good and risking his future life.
"To the rest of the players: this is your chance because Rafa is not there, so you had better take it."
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Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune are the two young players that most is being expected of heading into Roland-Garros, and Wilander has lamented the fact that neither will be able to take on the legendary Spaniard.
"To the young guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, it would have been great for them to have been able to play Rafael Nadal at the French Open once before he is done, but we just cross our fingers that he will be back next year," he said.
"This year is going to be a tough tournament without Rafa – we miss him."
Wilander's thoughts were echoed by fellow Eurosport expert Alex Corretja, who noted the "massive impact" that Nadal's withdrawal would have for other leading players.
"It has a massive impact," Corretja told Eurosport's Arnold Montgault as he reacted to the news and considered the consequences for the likes of Alcaraz and Djokovic.
"Whatever tournament you enter, if Nadal is not there then there is a hole in the draw where you are missing someone. But if it's Roland-Garros, it's not a hole, it's a whole world missing there!
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'It's not going to be the same without Rafa' - Corretja on Nadal withdrawing from French Open
"It is going to start making other players believe that they can win Roland-Garros – more than two hours ago [before Nadal's announcement]. That is, for sure, something that the players feel.
"It does not necessarily need to be more pressure for the guys that feel they can win Roland-Garros. I think they will feel sad for Rafa, sad for tennis, but relief for themselves, knowing that the biggest guy on earth on clay, in the history of tennis, is not going to be there.
"Whenever you are one of the favourites for the tournament and one of your toughest opponents goes out, you need to deal with yourself and with your own pressure.
"Inside, you feel that you have been given a better chance to win this tournament. This is how they will feel with Rafa not playing."
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