Rafael Nadal’s Thigh Injury Casts Doubt on Paris Olympics Participation

Rafael Nadal’s participation in the upcoming Paris Olympics is in doubt after suffering a thigh injury, his coach Carlos Moya announced on Thursday. The injury has cast uncertainty over Nadal’s scheduled appearances in both the singles and men’s doubles alongside fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros.

Injury Details and Immediate Response

The 14-time French Open champion experienced discomfort on Wednesday morning, which worsened by the afternoon. “He had some discomfort yesterday morning,” Moya told Spanish radio. “In the afternoon he was more limited, and before it got worse, he decided to stop.”

To prevent further aggravation, Nadal, 38, opted not to train on Thursday. “It was the most responsible thing to do,” Moya explained. “Don’t force it at the moment and see if he recovers well. We will see what condition he’s in tomorrow and Saturday.”

Recent Return and Upcoming Matches

Nadal recently returned to tennis after a long hiatus due to a hip injury. His comeback saw him reach his first ATP final since winning the 2022 French Open, though he lost to Portugal’s Nuno Borges in Bastad last weekend. 

Despite the injury, Nadal is scheduled to face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the singles first round on Sunday, following his doubles match with Alcaraz on Saturday. Should Nadal defeat Fucsovics, he could face his longtime rival Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Coach’s Perspective and Future Prospects

“I can’t guarantee anything, neither that he won’t play or he will play,” Moya admitted. “At the moment, he needs to rest and undergo treatment. He is obviously very excited to play these Olympics. It has been something marked on his calendar for years.”

Nadal’s enthusiasm for the Olympics is evident. “He is a born competitor and wants to play singles and doubles. He’s very excited about the doubles with Alcaraz. It will be the first time they have played together and it will be something historic for Spanish tennis,” Moya added.

Olympic Legacy

Nadal is a two-time Olympic champion, having won singles gold in Beijing in 2008 and doubles gold at the 2016 Rio Games with Marc Lopez. His potential absence from the Paris Olympics would be a significant loss for the event and for fans worldwide.

As Nadal undergoes treatment and rests, the tennis world watches closely to see if he will recover in time to compete in the Paris Olympics. His participation remains uncertain, but his determination and competitive spirit are undiminished.