If Rafael Nadal Plays The French Open, He Won’t Have Played A Single Match On Clay This Year

Rafael Nadal has won the French Open 14 times and has owned the tournament since winning his first title as a teenager in 2005.

It’s never wise to doubt Nadal’s chances in Paris, but if he plays the tournament this year — which remains an open question at this point — he will do so with some huge question marks attached to his game.

After announcing Friday that he had pulled out of the upcoming Italian Open due to an injury in his lower abdomen and upper right leg that he suffered at the Australian Open in January, Nadal won’t have played a single match on clay in 2023 ahead of the French Open.

He won’t have played a match of any kind in 130 days — and has won just five matches in the last 10 months.

Roland Garros runs May 28-June 11.

“Despite having noticed an improvement in recent days, there have been many months without having been able to train at a high level and the readaptation process has its times and I have no choice but to accept them and continue working,” Nadal said via social media.

“A hug to all.”

Nadal previously pulled out of Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.

Nadal is tied with his top rival Novak Djokovic at 22 Grand Slam singles titles, two more than the retired Roger Federer.

Without Nadal in Paris, No. 1 Djokovic would have an easier path to win a record 23rd major, although world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz looms as a dangerous threat.

“Well, best rival that I ever had, biggest rival that I ever had,” Djokovic said of Nadal in February. “We played, what, 59 times against each other, I mean, the most that any two players faced each other in the history of the game.”

He added: “We still keep going strong. I’m happy that we both are challenging the young guns for the biggest titles. And I think that probably there is also a big reason why we still compete on a high level is because, you know, he goes because I’m still going, or other way round.

“I think that’s great about this rivalry,” he continued. “And I feel like many people around the world who follow sports and tennis, they still want us to keep going, until we can’t go anymore!” he laughed.

Nadal’s last major title came in Paris a year ago over Casper Ruud with King Felipe VI of Spain looking on proudly. He recovered from a cracked rib suffered in Indian Wells to win the second leg of the Grand Slam after capturing the Australian Open.

But he injured his abdominal muscle at Wimbledon and had to withdraw ahead of a much anticipated semifinal against Nick Kyrgios.

At the U.S. Open last fall, he was upset in the fourth round by American Frances Tiafoe in what was the biggest win of the American’s life.

At this year’s Australian Open, Nadal suffered the hip injury in the second round against American Mackie McDonald and lost in straight sets.

Now it appears he’s in danger of missing his annual rite of spring in Paris, which would leave Djokovic without his top rival but with a greater chance to lift the trophy.