By Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya insisted “we haven’t decided anything yet” when quizzed about whether the blockbuster star intends to play at this month’s French Open. Nadal has appeared in just four tournaments this year and was blown away during his second round defeat to Hubert Hurkacz at the Italian Open earlier this month as he won just four games during the entire match.
Nadal returned to action at the Brisbane International in January following a year out with a hip injury but was forced onto the sidelines for another three months following his quarter-final exit at the hands of Jordan Thompson. The 37-year-old then won one match at the Barcelona Open last month, before going on to reach the last 16 of the Madrid Open a week later.
Nadal came from a set down to see off Zizou Bergs at the Italian Open in the first round but was then dispatched 6-1, 6-3 by Hurkacz. And with his fitness levels a far cry from what they were a couple of years ago, it remains to be seen whether the 22-time Grand Slam champion can bring himself to feature at the French Open, a tournament he has won a record 14 times.
Reports in Spain earlier this week claimed that Nadal will be travelling to Paris over the coming days and intends to play the Slam. However, Moya, who has been coaching Nadal for nearly eight years, claimed that is not necessarily the case. Speaking to Sportal, the 47-year-old explained: “The idea is to go to Roland Garros, but we haven’t decided anything yet. We will see how the next training goes. He lacks a bit of coaching rhythm. We go from day to day.”
Nadal won his first French Open in 2005 at the age of 19 and is the most successful player of all time at the tournament. He also has two Australian Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns and four US Open trophies to his name but has fallen behind 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic in the overall Grand Slam standings.
And commenting on his prospects of playing in the French capital following his defeat to Hurkacz, the veteran explained: “Probably one [possibility] is to say, ‘Okay I am not ready, I am not playing enough well.’ Then is the moment to take a decision in terms of not playing Roland Garros.
“Another is to accept how I am today and work the proper way to try to be in a different way in two weeks. The decision, as you can imagine, is not clear in my mind today.
“But if I have to say what’s my feeling and if my mind is closer one way or the other way, I’m going to say [I will] be in Roland Garros and try my best.”
