Nadal, practically ruled out for Godó

Rafael Nadal will be lost for the second year in a row Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. As AS has learned, there is a 90% chance that the Spaniard will not be in the Conde de Godó Tournament and opt for a more prudent and long preparation to face your great goal of 2023 with greater guarantees: Roland Garros. His return to the slopes would finally take place at the Mutua Madrid Open (April 26 to May 7).

The winner of 22 majors suffered an injury to the iliopsoas in his left leg during the last Australian Open, where he could not get past the round of 16 (lost to American Frances Tiafoe). After a period of rest and recovery, Nadal resumed training in Manacor a few weeks ago and then increased the number and intensity of the sessions, but he did not feel ready to compete again in the Monte Carlo Masters 1,000. “Unfortunately, I am not yet in a position to play with the maximum guarantees and I continue my recovery and preparation process, hoping to return to the competition soon “announced in a statement.

Before, the 11-time Rolex Masters winner had opted for prudence in his few public appearances. “I had a major breakdown in Australia and I don’t have a return date. I don’t know if I will return in Monte Carlo, in Barcelona or in Madrid. It will be when I’m good”, warned when he attended the Santiago Bernabéu on March 2 to see Madrid-Barça in the Copa de Rey. Now, with almost complete probability, he will get off the Godó, which Yes, it will have the number two in the world, Carlos Alcaraz.

Ranking and objectives

This season, Nadal (36 years old) has only played four games with a balance of 1-3 and has lost many points and places in the ranking, from two to 15th. He is far from the top eight of the race to the ATP Finals, he is 356th. But the ranking matters very little to him, since he is between eyebrows fighting to get his 23rd Grand Slam title, although it affects him to some extent not being in the top-10 for the first time since 2005.