Rafael Nadal is set to conclude his illustrious 19-year career at the French Open with diminished prospects of adding to his 14 titles, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled records and an unmatched reputation.
Nadal, who claimed his maiden Roland Garros title as a teenager in 2005, will mark his 38th birthday a week from next Monday. The former world number one, currently ranked 276th globally, has been plagued by injuries, including a hip injury and muscle tear, limiting his matches to just 15 since January last year.
Unseeded this year, Nadal faces an uphill battle, drawing world number four Alexander Zverev in the opening round on Monday. Despite the challenges, Nadal remains determined to give his all, stating, "I'm going to play the tournament thinking that I can give my all, 100 percent. And if 100 percent is not enough to win a match, I'll accept that. But I don't want to step onto court knowing that I have no chance. If there's a 0.01 percent chance, I want to explore that and give it a go."
His unparalleled dominance at Roland Garros includes 14 titles and a remarkable 112 wins with just three losses, two of which were against his long-standing rival, Novak Djokovic. Nadal's training session drew an estimated crowd of 6,000 people, underscoring the reverence and admiration he commands from fans and peers alike.
On the other hand, Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is facing a dry spell following his loss of the Australian Open title and recent struggles to secure a final berth. His journey to regain confidence on clay includes an unexpected semi-final defeat in Geneva, adding to his challenges ahead of the French Open.
Meanwhile, rising star Jannik Sinner, the successor to Djokovic as Australian Open champion, aims to overcome a hip injury as he vies for success at Roland Garros. Additionally, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is nursing an arm injury as he prepares to take on the competition in Paris.
