"He's got to be in the top five favourites at Roland Garros" says Andy Roddick on Rafael Nadal but with tournament warm-up caveat
ATP
Andy
Roddick commented on the likely return of Rafael Nadal at the Barcelona Open
and affirmed that he will be among the top five favorites at the French Open.
The 14-times Roland Garros champion was practically out for the entire 2023
season, and although a gradual return to competition was expected in 2024,
Nadal has only played in one tournament this year.
His
appearance was at the Brisbane International in the first week of January,
where he secured two victories but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by
Jordan Thompson. Unfortunately for Nadal, his participation subsequently led to
an injury that prevented him from competing in the Australian Open, and he
withdrew from the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, and Monte-Carlo Masters.
Nadal has
mentioned the possibility of retiring this year and had hoped to participate in
some of his favorite tournaments, with the optimism of being in top physical
form for the clay swing. However, he has been out of official tournaments for
more than three months, and it remains to be seen at what level Nadal returns,
as he was spotted practicing in Barcelona for the upcoming Barcelona Open.
Rafa Nadal in the 2024 Brisbane International
Former
world No. 1 Andy Roddick discussed on the Tennis Channel podcast the likelihood
of Nadal reaching the French Open final compared to the possibility of Andy
Murray reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals, as the British player is also
recovering from an injury that will take him several months to overcome.
According to the 2003 US Open champion, if Nadal competes in a couple of
tournaments before Roland Garros, he will be a strong contender to reach the
final: “Yeah, I
think we’re talking about health, right? If Rafa is healthy and can sneak two
tournaments in, he’s got to be in the top five favorites at Roland Garros
still," Roddick said.
"Obviously,
you want that goodbye at Roland Garros; it would suck if he [Nadal] can't get
that. I got to think, like, if he's practicing but not serving well, I still
got to think he's going to throw that out there in Roland Garros," Roddick
said.
"I
mean, if he can walk out there and at least play even if it's not great, like,
I get that Monte Carlo, if I can't play 100%, I'm not playing. I guess I get it
in Madrid. I get it in Rome. I don't think that line of thought holds water; he
wants to say goodbye at the place that he's won 14 times," he added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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