For the first time since 2004, Roland-Garros will take place without the master of the place. Rafael Nadal will not defend his chances in the capital as he announced on Thursday afternoon. He is even considering retiring at the end of the 2024 season and this has moved some of his opponents.
His compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who everyone sees taking up the torch, posted a message on his Twitter account: "Good luck Rafa! 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! »
Muchísimo ánimo Rafa! ❤️ Muy doloroso y triste para todos que no puedas estar en Roland Garros ni jugar más este año, pero deseando que 2024 sea una gran temporada para ti y puedas despedirte como el gran campeón que eres! 🤝🏻 @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/KIfVSnRRS7
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) May 18, 2023
"His absence opens up possibilities"
Russia's Daniil Medvedev sees it as an opportunity for competitors: "I think his absence opens up possibilities for many players, because even if he wasn't 100% physically and decided to play, he would have been one of the favourites, that's for sure." The world number three certainly remembers last year, when the bull of Manacor won the Grand Slam undercover due to his foot injury.
Medvedev said: "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. »
Perhaps the saddest in this story are the tournament organizers, who know how popular Nadal is at Porte d'Auteuil. "I am extremely disappointed for Rafael Nadal, who is forced to withdraw from Roland-Garros, his tournament of heart," tournament director Amélie Mauresmo said in a statement. I am also for the public of the Porte d'Auteuil as well as for all tennis fans, who will be deprived this year of this immense champion. »
"Rafael Nadal, whose destiny is intimately linked to that of the Roland-Garros tournament that he won fourteen times, will obviously be greatly missed," she continued. But at this moment, I think of him first and I imagine the pain and sadness he must feel after having to make such a decision. It must have been heartbreaking. We now hope that he recovers as soon as possible in order to see him quickly tread the tennis courts and find him next year at Roland-Garros. »