Rafael Nadal Practices At French Open Amid Questions About Fitness

Rafael Nadal returned to Roland Garros on Monday to gauge his standing forward of the beginning of the French Open on Sunday.

To the delight of his followers, the 37-year-old tennis legend practiced with coach Carlos Moya.

Roland Garros is the location of his a lot of Nadal’s most superb moments, and the place he has received 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles, however he hasn’t performed the occasion since profitable his twenty second main over Casper Ruud in 2022.

On Tuesday, Nadal practiced once more, taking a observe set from world No. 28 Sebastian Korda, 6-3.

After getting crushed by Hubert Hurkacz, 6-1, 6-3, within the third spherical of the Italian Open on Could 11, Nadal mentioned he was unsure if he would play Roland Garros.

“Let’s see what’s happening, how I really feel myself mentally tomorrow, after tomorrow, and in a single week,” Nadal mentioned final week on the Italian Open. “If I really feel prepared, I (am) going to attempt to be there and struggle for the issues that I’ve been preventing (for for) the final 15 years, (even) if now (that) appears unattainable.”

After that Spanish outlet AS reported that Nadal “feels high-quality” bodily and is “much less dejected” than anticipated after his early departure in Rome.

Assuming there aren’t any hiccups this week and “issues go effectively,” Nadal will make what could possibly be his closing look on the main he has dominated since profitable his first title in 2005, per AS.

There isn’t any means of figuring out how match he might be or what number of matches he can play. Competing in seven best-of-5 set matches throughout a fortnight could be a bridge too far contemplating how little aggressive tennis he has performed within the final couple of years.

His place within the draw can even be crucial. Nadal is at the moment ranked No. 276 on the planet and if he’s unseeded within the event, he might doubtlessly face Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz as early as the primary spherical. The draw might be made Thursday at 2 p.m.

It’s unclear if Nadal will announce formal retirement plans, however he has indicated he needs to compete within the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros.

Fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has mentioned he needs to play doubles with Nadal there.