Nadal present at the Bordeaux Challenger before Roland-Garros?

Guillaume Marion, Media365, published on Saturday May 06, 2023 at 7:20 p.m.

Package for the Masters 1000 in Rome, Rafael Nadal could land at Roland-Garros without having played in a tournament on clay this year. Unless the Spaniard goes to test himself during the Bordeaux Challenger…

And if finally, Rafael Nadal played a tournament on clay this year before playing Roland-Garros? While this hypothesis seemed to be logically considered lately by her clan, in particular by Carlos Moya, she has since taken the lead in the wing on Friday. Not yet ready to return to competition, the Spaniard had to forfeit the Masters 1000 in Rome (from May 10 to 21). As a result, the man with 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 gleaned from the Porte d’Auteuil side, should arrive in Paris without landmarks and especially without any match since his elimination in the 2nd round of the Australian Open. , on January 18th. However, Nadal could be tempted by a return to competition during the Bordeaux Challenger (from May 14 to 20). At least that’s what Jean-Baptiste Perlant, the tournament director, dreams of. “A lot of people talk to me about it, why not Rafael Nadal this year? It’s true that he needs matches with Roland-Garros. He needs victories of confidence, ”recognized the latter in particular.

“I don’t think he’s too greedy”

« We must not ignite, it is not done yet but why not this year? I have had no contact with him. (…) Bringing Rafael Nadal to a tournament, in terms of image and enthusiasm behind the tournament, is something extraordinary. There would therefore be repercussions and that is necessarily negotiated. There, in principle, it would be more him who would be in need of matches and in demand to participate in the tournament, subsequently declared Perlant, questioned on the subject by Franceinfo. So I think the simple fact that we invite him and offer him one of our “wild cards”, I think he would already be satisfied. I don’t think he’s being too greedy or asking for anything other than an invitation to play. “While Bordeaux will welcome some prestigious names, such as Gaël Monfils, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, Nadal could be a sublime icing on the cake!