By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 27, 2023
Rafael Nadal had his participation on the Monte-Carlo player entry list confirmed by the tournament on March 23rd, but the Spanish clay-court legend isn’t quite ready to say he’s committed to playing in the Principality, which takes place from April 8-16.
"We’re eager to welcome the legend Rafael Nadal," the tournament tweeted on March 23. "He is definitely able to win his 12th trophy in #montecarlo despite of his last injury."
Not so fast, says the King of Clay.
"I don't know who gets this information, but obviously if it were true I would confirm it but unfortunately I can't confirm it,” Nadal said, according to Marca. “I'm following my course and I don't know when I'll play again, that's the truth. I'm in a phase of increasing work. If I knew when I was going to return, I would say so, but I don't know.”
Nadal, who has been practicing on clay regularly of late, reaffirmed that his status is currently evolving and could be classified as “day by day”.
"I can't confirm that I will play in Monte Carlo, things are seen day by day. I prefer to say things when I really know them."
The Spaniard will want to be careful with so much at stake in the coming months. The main goal, of course, to make a strong bid for a 15th Roland-Garros and 23rd major title at Roland-Garros, which begins on May 28.
Nadal has been out since the Australian Open, when he suffered a grade 2 left hip flexor injury in his second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open. The initial timeline was given at 6-8 weeks, on January 18.