In Short
- Rafael Nadal has not played since the Australian Open in January
- Nadal said his recovery timeline has been extended by 6 weeks
- The French Open will get underway on May 28
By India Today Sports DeskRafael Nadal said on Thursday that there has been a setback in his recovery from the hip injury and he would be missing the Madrid Open, starting April 26. Nadal has been out of action since his second-round exit at the Australian Open.
Nadal had missed the Monte Carlo Masters, the clay-court swing’s first Masters 1000 tournament. Nadal’s preparation for the French Open has been hampered further with the 22-time Grand Slam champion racing against time to be fit for his title defence at Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal, a 5-time champion in Madrid Open, said the recovery has been stretched from 6 to 8 weeks to 14 weeks. The French Open will get underway on May 28 and it looks unlikely that Nadal will be fit for Rome Masters, starting May 10.
“Initially it had to be a six to eight-week recovery period and we are now on fourteen,” Nadal said in a video.
“The reality is that the situation is not what we would have expected. All medical indications have been followed, but somehow the evolution has not been what they initially told us and we find ourselves in a difficult situation.
“The weeks are passing and I had the desire of being able to play in tournaments that are the most important in my career such as Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros and for the moment I have missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona. I will not be able to be in Madrid unfortunately.”
CAN’T GIVE DEADLINESNADAL
While the Spaniard, a 14-times French Open champion who has dominated the clay court season for years, still hopes to be fully fit for Roland Garros but said he is not able to put a date on his return.
“The injury still hasn’t healed and I can’t work out what I need to compete,” Nadal said.
“I was training, but a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, do another treatment and see if things improve to try to get to what comes next.
“I can’t give deadlines because if I knew I would tell you but I don’t know. This is how things are now.”
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