Rafael Nadal has thrown great doubt over his attendance at the French Open over the last few months, as he questioned his own body’s capability to perform.
It is clear that he is not the same dynamic, unrelenting superstar he once was, but the technical quality he possesses has never left him.
And showcasing that raw physicality which earned him such stardom in bursts, it does feel like at times we get a brief glimpse of the 37-year-old rolling back the years as he lasers a backhand cross-court, or thunders a forehand past his stranded opponent.
His Rome Open exit to Hubert Hurkacz was disappointing, and added further fuel to the worrisome flame burning over his potential Roland Garros attendance.
Now, the silence has been broken.
Rafael Nadal makes final Roland Garros decision
The latest news is brought by Spanish outlet AS, who have revealed that Nadal will in fact play at Roland Garros for one final time.
There had been much speculation regarding his availability to do so despite his apparent return to fitness, and at times he threw his appearance into extreme uncertainty as he questioned his own capability to compete.
Happy to just leave with the memories he already has rather than forge newer, potentially bitter ones, there was severe worry from the tennis community that the King of Clay would not return to his favoured court.
But this report has assuaged all fears, as it states: ‘After losing with bad feelings in the second round of the Masters 1000 of Rome, against the Polish and number nine in the world, Hubert Hurkacz, Rafa Nadal returned on Sunday to Manacor immersed in a sea of doubts.
‘The Balearic will be training these days at his Academy and next week he will head to Paris with the intention of competing at Roland Garros (May 26 to June 9), according to AS.
‘The good prospects he obtained during the practices in Italy, in front of high-level players, did not correspond to the performance he showed in the matches, a fact that surprised both him and his team. However, the working days in the Italian capital did not pay a physical toll on the winner of 22 Grand Slams, close to turning 38 (he will do so on June 3), who intended to take his body to the limit, even if that put him a high risk, given his extensive history of injuries. In that sense, he is well, as his camp transmitted to AS.’
The news all tennis fans wanted to hear
In what has been a tough year for tennis, what with Novak Djokovic’s apparent decline and the various injuries that the next generation of superstars have suffered, Nadal has marked a shining light.
After all, despite not enjoying particularly deep runs in the tournaments he has played in, his mere presence enthrals onlookers given his deific status on the court.
He is an unquestionable legend of the sport, and wherever he goes he is worshipped.
Rome was yet another stop on his farewell tour, and there thousands of fans clamoured just to bid him farewell.
It is therefore mind-boggling to imagine how many will now gather in Paris, to get one last look at Nadal in the tournament where he has set so many records that nobody will ever come close to.
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