Nadal to hold press conference on Thursday amidst Roland-Garros fears

Suspicions are growing that Nadal will miss his favourite Grand Slam

Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 5, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal during the warm up before the men’s singles final against Norway’s Casper Ruud (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Carrie Dunn

May 17, 2023

Rafael Nadal will hold a press conference at his academy on Thursday to give further information about his participation – or otherwise – at Roland-Garros.

Rumours have been flying for weeks around whether the Spaniard would be fit enough to participate at his favourite Grand Slam, where he is the 14-time champion.

Spanish media had begun to report that a withdrawal from Paris was imminent.

And fans were particularly concerned when they saw footage on social media of Nadal on a training court in evident discomfort.

Now his team have confirmed: “Rafa Nadal will hold a press conference tomorrow at 4pm at the Rafa Nadal Academy by MoviStar to inform about his participation in Roland-Garros. If he plays or not and the reasons either way will be only be communicated tomorrow.”

Nadal has not played on the tour since his second-round defeat at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald. He has suffered repeated injuries over the past year since his Roland-Garros win, with a chronic foot problem, an abdominal issue, and a psoas injury.