Becker: 'Nadal will only return if he has a chance to win'
"I think Nadal will never compete again if he doesn't see a chance to win," Becker said in an interview with Eurosport on September 17. "Nadal's goal is always Roland Garros and maybe the 2024 Olympics in Paris on his favorite court. But to get there, he needs to attend previous tournaments to regain his form."
Nadal has not played since suffering a hip injury at the Australian Open. The 37-year-old tennis player then struggled with treatment, had to go on the operating table and miss the entire 2023 season, including the Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
During the press conference about withdrawing from Roland Garros in May, Nadal left open the possibility of retiring in 2024. Becker said that Nadal is a role model for millions of tennis lovers who has overcome difficulties and still has a chance to win another Grand Slam. .
"It's very difficult to return to the top at Nadal's age, plus injuries," Becker said. "But if he has 10, 15 preparation matches before the clay season and is healthy, Nadal is still a champion candidate. I will never bet against him at Roland Garros."
Nadal's uncle, coach Toni, said last month that the 22 Grand Slam winner could return to the Australian Open as early as January 2024. Nadal himself last week posted on social networks a photo of him swimming in Mallorca with the message "At work". Spanish media said that the "King of Clay" will return to normal training intensity in three months.
Marca's journalist Joan Solsona speculates that Nadal has a lot of motivation to return in 2024. Besides wanting to play an impressive farewell season, Nadal, in full health, still has a good chance of winning the trophy if looking at the current tennis situation. . On clay, Nadal only has two big opponents, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, the others are all far behind in class. Once Alcaraz or Djokovic makes a mistake, the opportunity to win Roland Garros for the 15th time will be open to Nadal.
"Of course Djokovic and Alcaraz are the biggest counterweights to Nadal and the rest of tennis," coach Becker commented. "I'm speechless with what Djokovic has done this year. He has nothing more to prove. Overcoming Nole in the Grand Slam right now is very difficult."
Djokovic, after serving Serbia in the Davis Cup last week, announced his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters in early October. This Masters 1000 event returned to the ATP Tour schedule after three years of not being held. Djokovic will focus on the Paris Masters and ATP Finals for the remainder of this season.
