I think about Rafael Nadal is to think Roland Garros and to think of Roland Garros is to think of Rafael Nadal. Few sporting events are as linked to an athlete as the French Tennis Open to the great Spanish legend.
Nadal won Roland Garros 14 timesthe latter in 2022, but all indications are that the man from Manacor will not be there to defend his title in Paris for the first time. Raph He has not played since the Australian Open, from which he was knocked out in the second round by Mackenzie McDonald and is expected – according to the Spanish media – this Thursday, May 18. announces that he will not play in the French tournament this year.
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When was the last time Rafael Nadal didn’t play at Roland Garros?
Rafael Nadal He has attended every edition of Roland Garros since he made his debut – and became champion – in 2005. Meanwhile, he missed the Australian Open twice, Wimbledon three times and the US Open four times. But he never missed his favorite appointment.
His last absence in Paris dates back to the 2004 seasonWhen one stress fracture in left ankle it prevented him from playing between April and July of that year, when he was near the top 30 in the ATP rankings. Nadal was then 17 years olda few days before he turns 18. Gaston Gaudio He was the champion of that edition of Roland Garros.
Shortly after this Roland Garros, Nadal won his first ATP tournament in Sopot, Poland.
An injury had already prevented Nadal from debuting in Paris in 2003, when at 16 he had just entered the top 100 of the ATP rankings. The Spanish suffered a cleft right elbow training for the tournament a few days before. Nadal only made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2003.
