Rafael Nadal trains ahead of doubles opener despite injury worries
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Rafael Nadal did not train on July 25, which his coach Carlos Moya said was “the most responsible thing to do”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – Tennis fans will breathe a sigh of relief as Rafael Nadal practised alongside doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros on July 26, but doubts continued about the Spaniard’s fitness ahead of the Olympic tennis competition.
The 38-year-old had missed his training slot a day earlier with Germany’s Alexander Zverev, and Spain’s coach Carlos Moya confirmed that the 22-time Grand Slam champion was struggling with a thigh injury.
Nadal, who has won the French Open a record 14 times, wore a strapping on his right thigh as he practised under the closed roof of Court Phillipe Chatrier but appeared untroubled.
Spain’s so-called dream team partnership are scheduled to open their campaign on July 27 against Argentinian sixth seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.
Nadal, who won the Olympic singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016, is also drawn against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovic in the singles on July 28 with a potential blockbuster clash against top seed Novak Djokovic in the second round.
Djokovic leads Nadal 30-29 in their head-to-head series.
Moya, who supervised the practice session, gave an optimistic update on Nadal’s fitness late on July 25, although he hinted the player could yet prioritise the doubles.
“It is practically confirmed he will play, unless the recovery is going very badly,” Moya was quoted by SER. “He is going to try out and we are optimistic he will play on Saturday.
“I don’t know how it’s going to go any further. As of today, it is that on Saturday he will go out on the court to play doubles with Alcaraz.”
While doubles might be possible even with a niggle, Nadal would be reluctant to play singles with an injury and risk then scuppering his doubles chances with French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz.
“The idea of giving up one of the competitions has not been raised, but if the time comes and he is limited for the singles, it can be raised without any doubt,” Moya added.
“He is a born competitor and wants to play singles and doubles. But doubles is much less demanding and there are real options, if they play well, of a medal.”
Nadal returned to tennis in 2024 after a lengthy absence with a hip injury,
The women’s tournament, meanwhile, suffered a blow as third seed Elena Rybakina joined a lengthy list of withdrawals due to illness just hours after the draw on July 25.
The big-serving 25-year-old Kazakh was down to face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in the first round of the singles.
“It is difficult for me to announce this, but unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympics.
“After Wimbledon, I contracted acute bronchitis, and despite trying to return to training, my body has yet to recover,” Rybakina posted on Instagram.
Her pull-out means that France’s Caroline Garcia moves into her spot as the 17th seed while Italian veteran Sara Errani enters the draw as an alternate.
With the action to begin, the flurry of high-profile withdrawals has cast a cloud over the tournament being staged on the Parisian clay.
Men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy had to withdraw from the singles and doubles earlier in the week because of illness, while Danish youngster Holger Rune also pulled out with a wrist injury.
Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who was runner-up in the women’s singles in Tokyo three years ago, withdrew because of injury, as did Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz because of a knee injury suffered at Wimbledon.
Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the champion in Tokyo, is also missing after giving birth to a daughter in April.
Two-time Olympic singles champion Andy Murray announced before the draw that he was not fit enough to compete in the singles but would still play doubles with Dan Evans.
Other notable absences include world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, Britain’s Emma Raducanu, American Ben Shelton and Tokyo men’s bronze medallist Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain. AFP, REUTERS
