"Painful", "one of the best in history", "disappointment and sadness": reactions rain after Nadal's forfeit

A first since 2005 and his first victory in Paris. Rafael Nadal has announced his withdrawal from Roland-Garros 2023. The Mallorcan is still dragging a hip injury since the last Australian Open. An announcement that had the effect of a bomb within the tennis planet.

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Good luck Rafa, hastened to publish Carlos Alcaraz on social networks. It's very painful and sad for everyone that you can't be there at Roland Garros and you can't continue playing this year, but I hope that 2024 will be a great season for you, and that you can retire as the great champion that you are!

Read alsoAbsent this year, Rafael Nadal can he win his 15th Roland-Garros in 2024?

"A huge disappointment for the tournament and for history"

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I believe that (his absence, editor's note) opens up possibilities for many players, because even if he was not 100% physically and he had decided to play, he would have been one of the favorites, that's for sure, "said Daniil Medvedev after his victory against Yannick Hanfmann in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 of Rome. Thursday.

"I hope he can come back as soon as possible, because he's a fantastic player, an incredible athlete, one of the best in history. I hope he can come back and play a few more Grand Slams," Medvedev said.

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It's a huge disappointment for the tournament, for him of course, for history, for everything he has scored on the tournament, explains for his part the former French tennis player Édouard Roger-Vasselin, on RMC Sport. I think the whole Parisian public was waiting to see it and unfortunately, it's a big disappointment for everyone.

«There is a lot of disappointment, sadness, adds for his part Fabrice Santoro. I really wanted to see Rafa again at Roland Garros. He is such a champion who has known throughout his career to push his limits, winning 14 times at Roland. We all know that these last few months have been difficult, he has taken longer to heal himself than he imagined. With packages in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, maybe the worst could happen with a package in Paris. The news has fallen, again I am very sad.»

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