Rafael Nadal will decide this Friday whether to take part in the final practice ahead of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The former world number one has yet to rediscover his best feeling for a comeback after a left hip iliac psoas injury sidelined him at the last Australian Open, where he exited in the second round.
The Balearic talent wants to make a final, deliberate assessment before the draw on Saturday for the Barcelona event. The tournament director, who had counted on Nadal’s presence in the weeks leading up to now, chose a cautious tone in an interview on Esport3 on Thursday. Nadal is expected to test his form on the Manacor courts today and tomorrow before making a final decision.
84 days off
Nadal has ruled out a European swing for the time being and will not be competing in Monte Carlo this week. The Balearic star has been inactive for 84 days up to Thursday as he has missed events in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo. His absence from Barcelona, a tournament he has won on 12 occasions, is a setback for preparations ahead of Roland Garros.
In 2023 Nadal played just four matches, securing one win. This marks his poorest ranking since April 18, 2005, when he first broke into the top 20 at number 17. With 2,715 points, his ranking sits at 15th in the world, a position that could slip further if he decides against playing in Barcelona, a city where he did not compete last year and where the champion earns 500 ranking points.
Alarming situation
A little over a month before the Grand Slam in Paris begins on May 28, the outlook is concerning for the former No. 1 who currently has only two Masters 1000 events in Madrid if he skips Barcelona. If he withdraws, Madrid and Rome could offer a minimal setup that would allow him to feel competitive and salvage a chance at defending a major trophy in the Musketeers Cup.
Nadal is scheduled to train for the first time on Friday at the Royal Club de Tenis in Barcelona as the season rolls on. Carlos Alcaraz, the current Barcelona champion, has fully recovered from a left wrist injury that forced him to abandon Monte Carlo as a precaution and is ready to push forward on the clay with renewed energy for the tour slate.