Mats Wilander has expressed his belief that Rafael Nadal can win the 2024 French Open title and highlighted how many times the Spanish great has proven people wrong.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion feels Nadal needs to play “between 15 and 20 competitive matches” ahead of Roland Garros to have a chance to contend.
Nadal withdrew ahead of the ongoing 2024 Australian Open due to a hip muscle injury that surfaced during his comeback at the Brisbane International earlier this month.
The 37-year-old was beaten by world No 55 Jordan Thompson at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane in a three-set quarter-final contest.
“Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news,” Nadal explained.
“Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in five sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.”
Prior to Brisbane, Nadal had not played a singles match since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, where he sustained a hip injury. The Spaniard underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the psoas muscle in his hip in June 2023.
The 22-time major champion is set to make his return next month, having entered the hard-court ATP 250 tournament in Doha that will begin on February 19.
Speaking to Eurosport, Wilander highlighted the importance of Nadal gaining match practice, but suggested competing on hard courts could be a risk.
“I think he probably needs matches. He needs to be in the environment of other players,” the Swede said.
“Even though he’s been there his whole life, the problem for him is not the temperament of playing a match, it’s just to hit with guys that are on tour, just to be in the locker room as he’s been away for so long.
“It doesn’t really matter to me, if he goes to Doha and he wins a match or two. It’s more just the experience of being around, preparing for three, four days definitely matter.
“The surface is a risk. I don’t remember him getting injured on a clay court. But he’s maybe on his last year and if he’s going to do well at the French Open, he needs to play a lot of matches, just be in that competitive environment again.”
The former world No 1 also outlined why he feels it would be a mistake to rule out the prospect of the 14-time French Open champion adding to his tally at the Paris major.
“We have said that he doesn’t [have a chance] for so many years and he’s proven us wrong. So many times,” Wilander added.
“He has said himself that he’s not the favourite, and he’s proven himself wrong. So yeah, he does. Because again, he brings that intangible: ‘I’m playing the most dominant player on this surface.’ And he’s playing well.
“So yeah, he can win it. But he cannot win it unless he plays most probably somewhere between 15 and 20 competitive matches before he goes into the French Open in my eyes.”
