Novak Djokovic: Absence of Rafael Nadal Casts a shadow over the Monte Carlo Masters Opening
Due to his ongoing injury issue, the 37-year-old Spaniard was forced to miss the customary opening of the European clay season.
When the Monte Carlo Masters starts on Sunday, Rafael Nadal, the opponent and clay court king, will be missed, according to Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
Due to his ongoing injury issue, the 37-year-old Spaniard was forced to miss the customary opening of the European clay season.
With an impressive 73-6 record in tournament play—which includes a 46-match winning streak from 2005 to 2013—Nadal has a record 11 titles in the principality. He’s made seventeen appearances in the main draw.
Having him on the court has always been vital for our sport,” two-time Monte Carlo winner and current world number one Djokovic stated on Saturday.
This year might have been his final opportunity, his final Roland Garros, and his final season.
Seeing him have to forfeit every event since the beginning of the year—with the exception of Brisbane during the first week of January—has been awful.
The 20-year-old Spanish player, Alcaraz, was similarly sad not to get the opportunity to play his lifelong idol. After losing to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, Alcaraz is currently ranked third.
It doesn’t really change for me if he’s not here, Alcaraz remarked. I don’t often see him around here.
We haven’t participated in the same competitions simultaneously. Only a handful of games that I’ve played with him are present.
It is unfortunate that he is not participating in this event as a tennis fan.
The boy still hopes to play alongside Rafael Nadal at the Olympics in Paris.
I still want to play with him because anything may happen in the four months leading up to the Olympics.
I think Nadal would be fantastic.
