Rafael Nadal has sustained a new thigh injury, prompting him to wear a leg bandage and cancel a practice session with Alexander Zverev ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris. This has led to speculation about his potential withdrawal.
The severity of Nadal’s thigh injury is unclear, but given his history of long-term injuries, this development is worrying for the 38-year-old, who is scheduled to compete in singles and doubles matches this weekend.
Nadal, a 22-time major champion and the renowned “King of Clay,” is set to face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in his opening singles match. A second-round clash with Novak Djokovic looms if Nadal progresses at Roland-Garros.
However, this new injury casts doubt on Nadal’s participation, having forced him to cancel a planned training session with Zverev, this year’s French Open runner-up, on Thursday, just a day before the opening ceremony.
Nadal skipped Wimbledon this year to avoid the risk of injury transitioning from clay to grass surfaces. Despite these precautions, it seems his efforts to remain injury-free have not succeeded.
Djokovic expressed hope that Nadal will be fit for singles play, looking forward to a potential second-round match against his long-time rival.
“I am aware that an era is ending with the retirements of Nadal and [Andy] Murray after the Games,” Djokovic said. “I believe my career is also nearing its end, but there will be players who can carry the mantle of being the best.
“It would be exciting to face Nadal in the second round. I feel more prepared than I was before Wimbledon. I have had many chances to win gold, and now I must seize them.
“The fact that I am not favored by bookmakers only motivates me further. The Olympic Games have always been a significant challenge for me.”