By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, April 24, 2024 The King of Clay can recapture his Roland Garros crown, if three elements fall in his favor, says Toni Nadal.
In an in depth interview with Cadena SER’s El Larguero, Toni Nadal, Rafa Nadal’s uncle and unique coach, asserts former world No. 1 Rafa can be an enormous think about Paris if three issues happen.
Rafa Nadal: Not Absolutely Match For Madrid, Will Do All the pieces to Play Paris
Toni Nadal says Rafa should be absolutely match, should accumulate extra clay match play within the coming weeks and should obtain a good French Open draw.
If these three issues occur, Toni Nadal says his nephew can declare a record-extending fifteenth Roland Garros crown.
“Sure [Rafa can win Roland Garros], clearly, we now have to get Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz… are injured,” Toni Nadal instructed Cadena SER. “Jokes apart, I do know it is very troublesome as a result of the extent of all these may be very excessive and when he went to Barcelona he hadn’t performed on clay for about 700 days.
“However there is a month to go, if he can bodily get his physique to reply, he must make a number of kicks and for the Roland Garros draw to be, not straightforward as a result of there’s no, however [manageable] within the first few days, as a result of then all the pieces adjustments.”
🎾‼️ ¿Tiene opciones @RafaelNadal de ganar @rolandgarros? Toni Nadal responde en @ellarguero:
🙌🌟 “SÍ, EVIDENTEMENTE”
👉 “Si consigue que físicamente el cuerpo responda, necesita hacer unos partidos y que el cuadro sea asequible en los primeros días, porque luego todo cambia” pic.twitter.com/SoC414zXK6
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) April 23, 2024
Pointing to Rafa Nadal’s mind-blowing 137-3 profession report in best-of-five-set clay-court matches, Toni Nadal stated his nephew will achieve extra confidence with extra match play although he concedes that additionally comes with the chance of damage.
Waiting for the two-time Olympic gold-medal champion’s Madrid farewell, Toni Nadal stated taking part in three matches on the Mutua Madrid Open is an effective and cheap purpose for Rafa, who opens vs. 16-year-old American wild card Darwin Model.
“Let’s examine if he can do three right here… and at Roland Garros, if potential, he makes seven and does not lose the ultimate,” Toni Nadal instructed El Larguero. “I hope that the method of readaptation to competitors continues and that I haven’t got any issues.
“I do know Rafa’s have to play, as a result of arriving at Roland Garros with out sufficient matches may be very harmful, much more so now that he’s not seeded and you could possibly get an Alcaraz or a Sinner within the first spherical.”
🏆🇦🇺 Toni Nadal: “Cuando Rafael ganó el último @AustralianOpen, yo hablé con él después de un par de partidos”
📞 “Cuando colgué le dije a mis hijos, es imposible que gane a algún jugador bueno”
🙌🔝 “Y en la last tuvo la oportunidad de hacerlo” pic.twitter.com/dr51Gyc1qX
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) April 23, 2024
Requested if he believes that is undoubtedly Rafael Nadal’s last professional season, Toni Nadal stated “I do not know” earlier than including “I discover it troublesome [Rafa will] do one other yr.”
“I do not know [if it’s Rafa’s last year], as a result of the fact is that in sport all the pieces adjustments from someday to the subsequent. You’ve gotten two unhealthy outcomes and also you say I am leaving, you win two and once more you assume you are in the most effective circumstances,” Toni Nadal instructed El Larguero. “Ultimately, I do not prefer to make predictions or take into consideration what is going on to occur as a result of it is clear to me that Rafa is 37 years previous, a punished physique and that he not responds as earlier than.
“However he has an identical mentality to the one he all the time has. In the event you make me wager, I discover it troublesome to do one other yr and play in Spain once more, however I do not know.”
Picture credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
