Rafael Nadal could skip Italian Open admits Mats Wilander due to packed clay court schedule with Roland Garros in mind
ATP
Mats
Wilander predicted that Rafael Nadal could skip the Italian Open to arrive in
good form at the French Open. The former Swedish tennis player hopes that Nadal
will perform well in the clay-court tournaments, which have historically
yielded excellent results for the 22-times Grand Slam champion.
Over the
next two months, three Masters 1000 tournaments are scheduled on clay, where
Nadal boasts an incredible record of 26 titles across the Monte-Carlo Masters
(11), Madrid Open (5), and Rome Open (10), in addition to his 14 French Open
titles.
The king of
clay enters this part of the season with only one tournament played at the
beginning of January, the Brisbane International, and has chosen to skip
hardcourt tournaments such as the Qatar Open and Indian Wells to arrive in the
best possible condition for the clay-court events.
With the
possibility that this could be his last season as a professional player, Nadal
intends to complete a full clay-court swing, as he is entered in all three
Masters 1000 tournaments and the ATP 500 Barcelona Open, where he has won the
title 12 times, all before competing at Roland Garros.
According
to the 7-times Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander, Nadal may need to adjust his
schedule if he feels well in the preceding tournaments and decides to
prioritize his health before the French Open:
"When
I think he’ll be ready for Roland Garros is either when he pulls out of the
Italian Open, because he’s done well in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid [if
he plays], or when he wins a couple of matches at the Italian Open because he’s
done well in the previous three weeks on clay."
"I
think that’s always been the case. He’s always done unbelievably well in Rome
but that is the clay court tournament out of all of them where he’s actually
done the worst," he added.
"And
some of it has to do with being a little tired. Some of it has to do with, ‘I
have enough confidence – I just can’t push myself to play another two, three
matches at this particular moment," Wilander concluded.
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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