A former French tennis player with two ATP titles and a career-high singles ranking of world no. 36 has cast doubt on Rafael Nadal’s ability to secure his 15th French Open title as the Spanish legend embarks on his comeback journey. Expressing skepticism about Nadal’s chances, the retired Frenchman, Florent Serra, pointed to his one-year absence and the aging factor in his assertion.
He expressed, “I don’t think he is capable of lifting the trophy a 15th time at Roland Garros.” Emphasizing the challenges posed by a year away from competition and the faster pace of today’s tennis game, Serra believes the odds are heavily against him. He claimed, “There is less than a 10% chance of seeing him win Roland Garros, or even lower.”
In the interview with RMC Sport, Serra elaborated on the obstacles Nadal may encounter. He highlighted the potential hurdles in building confidence, especially as an unseeded player. This might lead to early-round exits when competing against top seeds in the initial rounds of the tournament. Conveying his skepticism, he concluded, “At 37 years old, it seems a little complicated to me to win Roland Garros.”
🎧 Court N°1 est en ligne !
🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal est de retour sur les courts. À 37 ans, pourrait-il remporter un 15e Roland-Garros ?
🔎 Éléments de réponse avec @AntRech @ericsalliot et @fserra_81
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) December 5, 2023
Nadal, who last played at the 2023 Australian Open, underwent surgery for a hip injury in June. However, the ‘Spanish Bull’ is known for his exceptional record at the French Open, holding a staggering 112-3 win-loss record in the tournament. Despite this, Serra remains doubtful about Nadal’s chances and offers a conservative view.
Rafael Nadal gearing up for his return
Rafael Nadal is getting ready to make a strong comeback in the 2024 tennis season, and you can see it in his recent training videos. He’s been out of action since hurting his hip at the 2023 Australian Open. Despite the break, Nadal is working hard to come back next season, and he keeps sharing updates on social media to keep his fans engaged, who have been eagerly anticipating his return.
In his latest video on social media, Nadal is training at his academy in Mallorca, and he looks determined to make a successful return. The video shows the 37-year-old playing practice points while moving smoothly on the court, hitting his trademark groundstrokes, and rushing to the net on a short ball.
🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal continuing to improve, playing practice points 💪
📸 abel.b.horvath IG pic.twitter.com/hl9PInxRdw
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) November 27, 2023
These glimpses into his training sessions give fans a sneak peek at Nadal’s dedication and how much he’s putting into making a successful comeback. Nadal’s return isn’t just about recovering from an injury break; it highlights not giving up when things get tough. His commitment to training, as seen in these videos, gets fans excited about seeing him back on the court.