{"id":292895,"date":"2023-10-24T15:24:33","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T15:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=292895"},"modified":"2023-10-24T15:24:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T15:24:33","slug":"nadal-told-what-he-must-do-for-french-open-fairytale-ahead-of-long-road-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/tennis\/nadal-told-what-he-must-do-for-french-open-fairytale-ahead-of-long-road-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Nadal told what he must do for French Open fairytale ahead of ‘long road back’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rafael Nadal has been told that he must play the Australian Open if he wants a shot at winning a 15th French Open crown in a fairytale return. The Spaniard hasn\u2019t played a match since January, when he picked up a psoas injury. And Boris Becker has warned the 22-time Major champion that it will be a \u201clong road back\u201d that must start in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

Nadal has been sidelined for nine months, shutting down his season back in May and undergoing surgery in June. The 37-year-old recently returned to the practice court and is targeting a return in 2024 but has not committed to any tournaments yet.<\/p>\n

The two-time Australian Open champion was recently forced to deny claims that he would be making his comeback in Melbourne after tournament director Craig Tiley announced Nadal\u2019s return. But retired pro Becker believes that Nadal needs to play Down Under to get some matches in before the most important tournament of his career – the French Open.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Nadal] won\u2019t play his best tennis right away, but he has to play Australia,\u201d the six-time Grand Slam champion told Eurosport\u2019s Das Gelbe vom Ball. Although Nadal isn\u2019t sure whether he\u2019ll be ready to compete by January, Becker thinks it is a must in order for the Spaniard to \u201cperform on clay in April – physically, mentally, playfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The German added: \u201cHis big goal when he comes back is not Melbourne, but Roland Garros.\u201d The Parisian clay courts will definitely be on Nadal\u2019s mind – especially as the French Open will also be the home of next year\u2019s Olympic tennis event.<\/p>\n

But he will face a challenge in getting back to his best as Becker believes Nadal will go back to being \u201chunted\u201d by his rivals. \u201cIt will be a long, rocky road back. The young wild ones don’t sleep. They don’t say, \u2018Nadal, it’s nice that you came. We’ll let you win now,\u2019\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

For now, Becker is taking it as a positive sign that Nadal has returned to the practice courts. And the 55-year-old still backs the 93-time title winner to be a contender on the biggest stages once again. \u201cNadal should go back on the court and play well,\u201d he said. \u201cAs far as I’m concerned, he can win big tournaments again.\u201d<\/p>\n