Toni Nadal highlights the big ‘discomfort’ that is preventing Rafael Nadal from returning to action
Rafael Nadal made the right decision to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters as he is not yet 100 per cent fit, according to Toni Nadal with the 22-time Grand Slam winner’s uncle and former mentor admitting that there is still a concern over one area of the Spaniard’s game.
Former world No 1 Nadal’s comeback plans have suffered another setback as he announced his withdrawal from the ATP Masters 1000 event on Thursday, stating that his body is not yet ready for competitive tennis.
“My body simply won’t allow me,” he said. “And even if I am working hard and making the maximum effort every day with all the will to play and compete again at tournaments that have been very important for me, the truth is that I can’t play today.”
The Monte-Carlo Masters was set to be the King of Clay’s first tournament since January as he played three matches at the Brisbane International before a muscle injury forced him out of the Australian Open, Qatar Open and Indian Wells Open.
Nadal has shared very little detail about his current injury, but his former coach Toni has confirmed that he is still experiences pain when serving.
“Either you go [to a tournament] one hundred per cent or better not participate,” he told the EFE news agency.
The 63-year-old added: “For the moment he can’t play there, he hasn’t recovered yet. He has discomfort when serving, otherwise he has no problems when training.”
READ MORE: Former world No 1 admits he is ‘worried’ about Rafael Nadal after King of Clay’s latest setback
The Barcelona Open, which starts on April 15, is next on the 37-year-old tennis calendar and that event will be followed by the Madrid Open.
Will we see Nadal at those tournaments?
“I don’t know what he will do regarding Barcelona and Madrid. I haven’t been in his sports environment for years. When we see each other I ask him how it’s going, but I don’t ask him about his plans,” Toni said.
“I hope he can play because it is necessary to have a good Roland Garros. A few days ago I saw him and asked him. He told me that it was not going well and I told him the same thing as always: ‘Let’s not complain, it has gone very well for us’ because we thought that his career would end in 2011 or 2012.”
But if Nadal doesn’t play at the French Open there is still a chance that he could finish his career at Roland Garros as the Paris Games will be staged at the venue from July 27 to August 4.
Toni added: “If he manages to recover and is well, I think he can win a medal in Paris. It is difficult, of course, but one cannot rule him out as one of the favourites.”
