As the days keep ticking, the focus drifts to Paris as the French Open, aka the Roland Garros, comes alive.
The 2024 edition will be memorable as fans with Roland Garros’ final tickets would love to see the King of Clay Rafael Nadal’s final act.
With the legendary Spaniard set to return to Paris in 2024, the focus is on him to see if he can go all the way.
Expert’s Favorite!
Former world No. 7 Emilio Sanchez Vicario believes Rafael Nadal will be “100 percent at his best” at Roland Garros and the Olympics.
The 15-time ATP titlist thinks Nadal has been afraid because the operation he underwent last year bothers him. But Sanchez feels this will change when he starts playing his first game in the draw.
Ever since he exited the Australian Open in 2023, Nadal has only played one tournament and three games. This might be a concern because the clay court game is physically challenging, and if he intends to go all the way, he will need to regain his match fitness.
The 37-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on his hip in June last year and had a setback with the same hip in his comeback tournament in Brisbane in January.
The former world No. 1 was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Australian Open and has since withdrawn from events in Doha and Indian Wells, where he had hoped to return.
Nadal is expected to try to play at the Monte Carlo Masters in April to start his clay-court season in preparation for the 2024 French Open, which he has identified as his priority.
With the Paris Olympic Games also set to be at Roland Garros, many experts believe that Nadal would want to end his career at the Olympics.
Fans who’ve turned up year after year with Roland Garros’ final tickets know that Nadal knows the court better than anyone, but this year will be tough.
Given that the 2024 Paris Olympics will be staged at Stade Roland Garros, this tournament has also been identified as appealing to Nadal in what could be his final season.
The tennis event at this year’s Games will be held from July 27 to August 4.
In an interview with EFE, Sanchez Vicario played down the prospect of Nadal’s imminent retirement and argued that his struggle to compete has been “a battle with himself.”
Sanchez Vicario — brother of four-time women’s Grand Slam champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario — is a former world No. 1 in men’s doubles. He played between 1984 and 1998, and he was Spain’s Davis Cup captain when they won the competition in 2008.
Toni Nadal – Rafa will be back in 2024
The latest development from Rafael Nadal’s fitness levels ahead of the Roland Garros is positive, as his uncle and former coach says his nephew will win a 15th Roland Garros title this spring.
Toni Nadal’s heavily confident statement has given new-found hope to the Nadal fans who were anxiously looking at Roland Garros’ final tickets for the tournament that will kick off in May.
“I prefer to say that he is going to win [at Roland Garros],” Toni told MSN.com.
He added that it would be difficult, but he was positive that Nadal could take the stage at the Roland Garros and the Olympics.
“I always try to be positive, and I hope that my nephew can play a great role both in the [Olympic] Games and at Roland Garros.”
In the French Open, Nadal has won 14 out of his 22 grand slams at Roland Garros.
Earlier, Nadal pulled out of Doha to focus on Indian Wells, but it did not go according to plan.
He had to withdraw from the tournament again, disheartening the fans who had made the trip.
Nadal Withdraws from Indian Wells
The Spaniard took to social media to convey a heartfelt message to his fans, stating that he would not be participating in the competition.
“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells,” he said. “Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here.”
“That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.”
“I have been working hard and practicing, and you all know I took a test this weekend, but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.
It is not an easy decision; it’s a tough one, as a matter of fact, but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans.
“I will miss you all…”
India’s Sumit Nagal later replaced Nadal.
For Nadal, the Indian Wells tournament would’ve been crucial as the courts are similar to those at Roland Garros. This could’ve helped him get the much-needed game time in clay.
But, with Indian Wells out of the way, Nadal will have just the Monte Carlo before the Roland Garros.
Nadal looks to bounce back from injury at the Monte Carlo, as his name is also on the entry list.
Nadal is an 11-time champion in Monte Carlo, and it will be fascinating to see how the ”King of Clay” is shaping up ahead of his final attempt at lifting a 15th French Open title this summer.
The Spaniard returned at the Brisbane International in January after spending a year on the sidelines due to a long-term hip problem.
Rafael Nadal has said that 2024 could be his final season on tour, but the door remains open depending on what transpires this season.
While fans will wait for their return, Nadal will find it challenging to reach another Roland Garros final with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and newly crowned Australian Open hero Jannik Sinner. The fans would anxiously wait to purchase Roland Garros’ final tickets and would want to see Nadal in it.
The youngsters are catching up, and it might take something special for the King to be crowned as a winner at the final.