OTHER SPORTS
Nadal: “I don’t know when I will play again”
Rafa Nadal has been out of action since the Australian Open and while he was expected to play in Monte Carlo, he doesn’t seem fully recovered from his injury.
The clay court season is about to start, with the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 being one of April’s main attractions in the ATP Tour.
It’s difficult to imagine a clay tournament without the 14-time Roland Garros winner, but the Spanish great admitted he may need more time to get fully fit and ready to compete.
“I’m following my course and I don’t know when I’ll play again, that’s the truth”, he said.
“I’m in a phase of increasing work. If I knew when I was going to return, I would say so, but I don’t know. I can’t confirm that I will play in Monte Carlo, things are seen day by day. I prefer to say things when I really know them”, the Spanish maestro concluded.
Eyeing another success in Paris
While the Manacor native may take some extra time before returning to the courts, he might decide to participate in the upcoming clay-court events before playing in Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
His uncle and current coach of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Toni Nadal, stated that the 36-year-old could feature in Madrid or Rome before flying to Paris.
“In Madrid or at Roland-Garros. The time will come and he will decide. When you lift a trophy you convince yourself that you still have something to give”, he said.
Despite his injuries, Nadal wants to keep making history yet again by winning his 15th Roland Garros trophy and his 23rd major, which would also see him overtake Novak Djokovic in the race for the most Grand Slam tournaments won.