IMAGE: Rafael Nadal beat Casper Rudd to win his 14th French Open title final yr. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal’s participation at this yr’s French Open is unsure.
The report 14-time French Open champion has missed a slew of tournaments since his loss to MacKenzie McDonald within the second spherical of the Australian Open in January.
That loss was attributed to a hip-injury — a grade 2 left hip flexor damage — Rafa suffered throughout that match and it has been all downhill thereafter for the Spaniard.
He withdrew from the Indian Wells match in March and the Miami Open final month.
To the shock of followers, Nadal, failing to get well from the damage, introduced his withdrawal from the claycourt swing. He introduced his withdrawal from the Monte Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open after which the Madrid Masters.
A setback got here when Nadal introduced his unavailability from the clay courtroom match in Rome — a warm-up to the French Open.
Although Nadal has revealed that he has seen enhancements in his hip damage after making an attempt a brand new therapy, the query nonetheless stays: Will Rafa defend his title on the French Open?
The thriller is ready to be solved when the 36 yr outdated addresses the media afterward Thursday.
Nadal has been ravaged by a spate of accidents all through his profession — from troublesome knees, to wrist accidents, to a foot damage damage early in his profession and an ankle damage as late as 2015.
But having fought these demons beforehand, this is hoping Rafa returning to the tour with stronger hips for a last flourish at his favorite Roland Garros.
