Rafael Nadal’s uncle provides worrying update and explains when pain is the worst | Tennis | Sport

And now his uncle Toni Nadal, who mentored him for the majority of his career before opting to step away from the coaching staff in 2017, has explained why his nephew made the call. « Either you go [to a tournament] one hundred per cent or better not participate, » he told the EFE news agency.

« For the moment he can’t play there, he hasn’t recovered yet. He has discomfort when serving, otherwise he has no problems when training. »

The ‘King of Clay’ has not played a competitive match since the Brisbane International in January. A muscle injury duly forced him out of the Australian Open, Qatar Open and Indian Wells Masters, but he had been touted to begin his build-up for the French Open, a tournament he’s previously won 14 times, in Monte-Carlo. 

Fans will now fear the absence of Nadal, 37, at the Barcelona Open on April 15 with that event followed by the Madrid Open. And Toni also conceded he didn’t know what the player’s intentions were.

« I don’t know what he will do regarding Barcelona and Madrid, » he added. « I haven’t been in his sports environment for years. When we see each other I ask him how it’s going, but I don’t ask him about his plans. » He did however, express a desire to watch his relative target title No.15 in France on May 20.

« I hope he can play because it is necessary to have a good Roland Garros, » Nadal’s relative continued. « A few days ago I saw him and asked him. He told me that it was not going well and I told him the same thing as always: ‘Let’s not complain, it has gone very well for us’ because we thought that his career would end in 2011 or 2012. »

Nadal himself has been tight-lipped on the fitness issues that have plagued him since he was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon in 2022. On his withdrawal from Monte-Carlo, he said: « My body simply won’t allow me.

« I am working hard and making the maximum effort every day with all the will to play and compete again at tournaments that have been very important for me. But the truth is that I can’t play today. »