Justine Henin sets the bar high for Rafael Nadal

“It must be admitted that he has seemed to be struggling in recent months.”

Eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open and joined, just at the Australian Slam, by Novak Djokovic in the number of majors won, Rafael Nadal would seem to have exhausted his almost inexhaustible competitiveness at high levels: blame injuries, certainly not lack of motivation. The Manacor champion, having dropped out of the Top 5, has in fact suffered a second-degree injury to his iliopsoas that will keep him off the court until at least the Monte Carlo Masters 1000.

“Rafa has already amazed us a myriad of times. His victories at the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2022 left everyone speechless, proving that Nadal should never be underestimated. At the same time, it must be admitted that he has seemed to be struggling in recent months,” said former WTA number one Justine Henin, speaking at a press briefing. “He has had several physical problems, became a father in the fall and has not returned to 100 percent form. The Australian Open 2023 didn’t go well and he got an injury to his iliopsoas: this just wasn’t needed after the ordeal of the last few months. At Roland Garros we will find out if Rafa will be able to rise again,” he concluded.