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French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo says it is hard to imagine the championships taking place without Rafael Nadal.Nadal, a 14-time champion, has featured in every tournament since 2005 – but has not played any tennis since January’s Australian Open because of a hip injury.
Nadal says he finds himself in a “difficult situation” and has already pulled out of this week’s Madrid Open.“It’s obviously a possibility for him not to be able to be fit to come here to Roland Garros,” Mauresmo said in an interview with BBC Sport on the Philippe Chatrier Court where Nadal beat Casper Ruud in last year’s final.
“But the only thing I know for sure is that if there is one tournament he doesn’t want to miss, it is this one. We are still five weeks away from the main draw. I am still hopeful, and I will keep my fingers crossed. It will be hard (to imagine Roland Garros without him).
It would be hard if he doesn’t come, to be honest.He is so much part of the history of the tournament for the last almost 20 years – it would be sad. But I am someone that is positive, so I’m going to hope that things are going to get better for him.”
Mauresmo was at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca last month to present the 36-year-old with a replica of his statue, which was unveiled at Roland Garros two years ago.
The statue is three metres tall, and made entirely of steel. But Mauresmo says that will not ultimately be enough to commemorate Nadal’s unprecedented run of success in Paris.
“We have this talk sometimes,” said the former women’s tennis ace. – BBC Sport
Online Reporter