“The real you, for one last time”: Paul McNamee wishes Rafael Nadal luck for Roland Garros after disappointing outing in Rome

Four-time doubles Grand Slam winner Paul McNamee has wished Spain’s legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal the best of luck after his disappointing outing in the Rome Open. The 37-year-old is often regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal has struggled with fitness concerns regularly and it was because of this reason he announced last year that the 2024 season will be his last at the highest level. The former world number returned to action earlier this year but once again struggled with fitness concerns as he was ruled out for more than two months which led him to miss the Australian Open as well. Even though Nadal returned to action during the Barcelona Open, he has failed to live up to the expectations and had another disappointing outing during the ongoing Rome Open where he was knocked out after losing to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-3.

McNamee, in a post on his official account on the social media platform X — previously known as Twitter — where he expressed disappointment after seeing the legendary tennis star playing like a ‘shadow’ of himself. "Oh Rafa… it’s hard to watch a shadow of yourself, especially on clay. It’s a massive ask to be able to turn it round in the next two weeks, but we would love to see you, if it’s the real you, for one last time, at Roland Garros. Good luck," he wrote.