Rafael Nadal will miss the 2023 French Open due to injury and will be unable to defend his crown at Roland-Garros.
Nadal has not played since January 18 but was targeting a return in Paris, where he has won a record 14 men’s singles titles.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion last featured at the Australian Open, where he lost in the second round and picked up a nasty hip flexor problem.
Nadal posted a worrying injury update after being forced to miss the Monte-Carlo Masters and was subsequently absent from key events in Madrid and Rome, and according to widespread reports in Spain, Nadal will now miss the French Open.
Official confirmation is expected at a press conference tomorrow with his team releasing a statement on Wednesday.
‘Rafa Nadal will hold a press conference tomorrow at 4pm at the Rafa Nadal Academy by MoviStar to inform about his participation in Roland Garros,’ the statement read. ‘If he plays or not and the reasons either way will be only be communicated tomorrow.’
Nadal, 36, said in a video posted on social media a month ago: ‘Initially it had to be a six-to eight-week recovery period and we are now on 14.
There have been rumours circulating that Nadal may soon retire from tennis, after fellow great Roger Federer hung up his racket last year.
Nadal, who was left ‘destroyed mentally’ after the Australian Open, became a father in October and is expected to spend less time on the ATP Tour than ever.
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