Andrey Rublev is tipping Rafael Nadal to win the French Open and says there is no reason for him to explain why he is making that prediction. Nadal, 36, is a record 14-time French Open champion. In a video for the ATP, Rublev and several other players were asked to predict the French Open champion.
“I mean, (do) I need to say why Rafa? After how many, 18 years of winning everything on clay,” Rublev said. Dominic Thiem, who was twice beaten by Nadal in the French Open final, also tipped the Spaniard to win it all again at Roland Garros.
Rublev, Thiem tip Nadal to win the French Open
This week, Nadal announced his withdrawal from Monte Carlo – that means the Spaniard won’t start his clay season in time. “Unfortunately I am still not ready to compete and will miss one of those special tournaments I always love to play.
Monte Carlo is and has been a key event on my career, but unfortunately I will have to miss it again since I am still not ready to compete without the risk of getting injured. I will continue the process of getting ready to come back,” Nadal said in an official press release.
Nadal, who hasn’t played since the Australian Open due to a hip injury, is now scheduled to play three tournaments leading up to the French Open. Nadal’s comeback target is the Barcelona Open, which starts on April 17th.
After Barcelona, Nadal is also hoping to play in Madrid and Rome. Last weekend, Barcelona tournament director David Ferrer confirmed Nadal would 100% be in Barcelona. “Rafa Nadal is training very intensively. We don’t know if he will make it to Monte Carlo or not, but he will definitely be there in Barcelona,” Ferrer said. It remains to be seen if Nadal will indeed make his long-awaited return in Barcelona.
