Roland Garros without its king? Nadal is dealing with health issues. I don’t know what will happen next week, admits clay specialist

The second Grand Slam of the season starts on 22 May. However, Roland Garros may be missing its king this season, which without much controversy could be described as Rafael Nadal. The Spanish tennis player is suffering from health problems.

Rafael Nadal took part in a tournament in Rome before the start of Roland Garros. He had managed to win ten times in the past and wanted to get in a good mood for his favourite Grand Slam. But it didn’t go so well.

On Thursday, he lost to Denis Shapovalov in Rome. He dominated the first set quite smoothly, winning it 6:1, but then the pain in his left leg flared up and Nadal’s performance went downhill. Shapovalov then turned the match around and won the next two sets 7::5 and 6::2.

The holder of a record 21 Grand Slam titles said in the post-match press conference that this is nothing new for him as he is a player who simply has to live with injuries.

“Sometimes it’s hard for me to accept this situation. From the middle of the second set in the match with Shapovalov it started and then it was not playable for me. But I don’t want to take credit away from Denis, he played a good match,” Nadal was quoted by the ATP Tour website.

Nadal was playing only his second tournament in Rome since March, where he injured his ribs in Indian Wells for a change. He was greatly disappointed and frustrated by another injury. He even admitted that it is difficult for him to train in the right way on consecutive days, he has to adapt his game to his condition and it is not easy for him.

He would like to defend his title at Roland Garros. If he wins, it would be the 14th trophy from the French Grand Slam. But he hasn’t confirmed his participation yet.

“I don’t know what can happen in the next few days or in a week. It’s time to accept the situation and fight. I have a clear goal and I will keep dreaming about it. Firstand foremost, I must not be in pain in training,” Nadal is clear.

If he takes part in his favourite tournament, he revealed that he will definitely have his doctor on hand to help him go as far as possible under any circumstances.

Nadal would leapfrog Djokovic by two Grand Slams if he wins the tournament, while the Serb will try to catch Nadal in the number of most valuable trophies.

Source: ATP