Unsurprisingly, Rafael Nadal will not defend his title at Roland-Garros. The Spaniard, fourteen times winner of the French Open, formalized this Thursday his package for the 2023 edition (May 28 – June 11), during a press conference organized at the premises of his Academy in Manacor (Mallorca). Still suffering from the left iliopsoas (grade 2 inflammation), he was forced to give up.
“The lesion has not evolved as I wanted. I am unable to play at Roland-Garros. You can imagine how difficult it is for me to make this decision, dictated by my body”he explained before announcing a break of several months to try to regain his state of form. “Next year will probably be my last year”he specified.
Nadal’s last official match, who will turn 37 on June 3, dates back to January 18. He had then been eliminated by Mackenzie McDonald (6-4, 6-4, 7-5) in the second round of the Australian Open. Decreased, he then had to give up on the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome.