Rafa Nadal has headache at French Open even if he recovers from injury

Rafael Nadal is currently bidding to be ready for the French Open as he continues to recover from a psoas injury. Despite issuing a bleak update last week, those around him have since shared their belief that he could return at Roland Garros. But even if Nadal can recover in time, he will still have something to worry about in Carlos Alcaraz who believes he could beat the 14-time champion in his own backyard.

Nadal’s French Open chances are in doubt this year as the world No 14 has been sidelined since January. He issued a statement last week, revealing that he was trying a new treatment after exceeding his six-to-eight-week recovery timeframe with no luck.

However, the Spaniard’s uncle Toni believes he will be back “soon” while Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya also revealed that the French Open was still his objective. But even if the ‘King of Clay’ can be ready for his most successful tournament, he will still have a headache to worry about.

Alcaraz has long been touted as the ‘next Nadal’ – something his coach isn’t a fan of – and the world No 2 has shared his belief that he could have a chance at beating the 22-time Major winner at the French Open. “I have always said that I like to play against the best and Nadal is one of the best in history, there is no doubt about that,” the US Open winner told Marca.

Just in
Carlos Alcaraz ‘scares’ Medvedev as Russian rues rival’s hidden weapon[LATEST]

And there’s one place in particular that the 19-year-old is eyeing a showdown with his countryman – the French Open. He continued: “His tournament is Roland Garros, he has the most titles, but this is the most symbolic for him.

“I would love to play him at Roland Garros, measure myself against him and see what happens. I think I could beat him, but Rafa has a thousand lives there.” Alcaraz also shared his admiration for Nadal’s belief and fighting spirit, something he has tried to draw from.

“I am inspired by the courage and the winning gene that he [Nadal] has inside himself,” the top seed at this week’s Madrid Open said. “Especially that rage that he has on the court of wanting to win and doing everything possible to win. To never quit, to never give up and go for everything.”

Don’t miss…
Emma Raducanu told tennis ‘needs’ her as Brit tumbles down rankings[EXPERT]
Serena Williams wants Venus ‘brought to justice’ and revokes ‘invite'[QUOTES]
Andy Murray shares the tennis cliche he hates most before Madrid Open[PREVIEW]

The nine-time title winner applauded Nadal for always finding solutions to his problems – something the 36-year-old will be hoping to do with his psoas injury ahead of the French Open. Alcaraz continued: “For me, mentally he is an example and he is also in other areas.

“No matter how many problems come up, he always provides solutions and never makes excuses. He has experienced many games in which he has been dead and he has known how to turn it around. And that is not easy at all, staying mentally strong to find solutions.

“It is something that I would like to take from Rafa, the ability that he has to adapt to any situation.”

Source: Read Full Article