Mats Wilander believes Rafael Nadal can win the 2024 French Open title and asserted that how many times Spanish great has proven his critics and naysayers wrong across his glittering career.
The 7-time Major Champion feels Nadal needs to play between 15-20 competitive matches ahead of Roland Garros to have a chance to clinch a 15th crown in Paris.
Nadal pulled out of the 2024 Australian Open due to an injured hip muscle that he hurt during his comeback at the Brisbane International earlier in the start of January. The 22-time Grand Slam suffered both a loss (by world No. 55 Jordan Thompson) and the injury at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane in a three-set clash.
“Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news,” Nadal explained.
“Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in five sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.”
Before entering Brisbane, Nadal has not played a singles match since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the R2 of the 2023 AO, where he injured his hip for the first time. The Mallorcan then underwent arthroscopic surgery on the psoas muscle in June 2023 and delayed and waited for his return until January 2024.
The 37-year-old is set to make his return next month as he has names include in the entry list of ATP 250 tournament in Doha that begins on Feb 19.
Eurosport commentator Mats Wilander outlined the importance of Nadal gaining match practice but suggested competing on hard courts could cause trouble.
“I think he probably needs matches. He needs to be in the environment of other players,” the Swede said.
“Even though he’s been there his whole life, the problem for him is not the temperament of playing a match, it’s just to hit with guys that are on tour, just to be in the locker room as he’s been away for so long.
“It doesn’t really matter to me, if he goes to Doha and he wins a match or two. It’s more just the experience of being around, preparing for three, four days definitely matter.
“The surface is a risk. I don’t remember him getting injured on a clay court. But he’s maybe on his last year and if he’s going to do well at the French Open, he needs to play a lot of matches, just be in that competitive environment again.”
The former world No 1 also explained why he thinks it would be a folly to rule out the prospect of the 14-time French Open champion adding one more to his trophy haul on his beloved Parisian clay.
“We have said that he doesn’t [have a chance] for so many years and he’s proven us wrong. So many times,” Wilander added.
“He has said himself that he’s not the favourite, and he’s proven himself wrong. So yeah, he does. Because again, he brings that intangible: ‘I’m playing the most dominant player on this surface.’ And he’s playing well.
“So yeah, he can win it. But he cannot win it unless he plays most probably somewhere between 15 and 20 competitive matches before he goes into the French Open in my eyes.”