Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev hope Rafael Nadal will return to action

Russia's Daniil Medvedev is now into the final four after four victories and the loss of just one set. PHOTO: AFP

ROME – Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, two younger rivals of Rafael Nadal, said on Thursday that they hoped the 36-year-old Spaniard would return to the court after he pulled out of the French Open.

Nadal announced he would miss the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time in 19 years after failing to recover from a hip injury.

He also said he plans to retire after the 2024 season.

His fellow Spaniard Alcaraz, the 20-year-old who will take over from Novak Djokovic as world No. 1 next week, said Nadal’s announcement was “very painful and sad for everyone”.

He added: “But I hope that 2024 will be a great season for you and that you can say goodbye like the great champion you are!”

Medvedev, who lost the epic 2022 Australian Open final to Nadal despite winning the first two sets, said: “It will be the first Roland Garros without Nadal in I don’t know how long. It opens up possibilities for many players.”

He admitted that such is Nadal’s prowess on clay that “even if Nadal was not at 100 per cent, he would still be the favourite if he decided to play”.

Speaking at the Italian Open, the Russian added: “I hope he can come back as fast as possible. He’s an amazing player, one of the best in history.

“I hope he can play some more Slams for as long as he can... we’ll see how it goes.”

Medvedev, meanwhile, continued his breakthrough on clay on Thursday as the third seed reached the semi-finals in Rome with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Yannick Hanfmann.

The 2021 US Open champion freely admits he has never been comfortable on the red dirt but has since shattered that stereotype with his steady progress at the Foro Italico, reaching his seventh semi-final of the season.

“I said before the tournament I was feeling really great in practice,” he said. “It is always a danger to say this and if you lose the first round you would think, ‘Why did I say this?’.

“But I am proving it. I’m happy to be in the semi-finals.”

The world No. 3 had never won a match in Rome in three previous appearances and had little confidence in his game on clay. He is now into the final four after four wins and the loss of just one set.

Medvedev also increased his lead in ATP Tour match wins as he claimed his 37th of the season. He will next face Greek world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Croatia’s Borna Coric 6-3, 6-4. AFP, REUTERS

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