“It hurts me that Nadal is going through this, just like it happened to Federer” – Feliciano Lopez

Nadal, who has not played since the Australian Open in January, has already pulled out of Monte-Carlo and Barcelona

Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open Image Credit: Icon SMI / Panoramic

April 17, 2023

Feliciano Lopez says that he is concerned about compatriot Rafael Nadal, who has been off the tour since the Australian Open in January.

Nadal has already pulled out of last week’s Monte-Carlo Masters and this week’s Barcelona Open as he continues to recover from injury. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has not confirmed whether he will return in time for next week’s Madrid Masters, where Lopez is the Tournament Director.

Speaking in Barcelona where he is playing this week, Lopez said he is concerned about Nadal as a friend.

“I worry more as a friend. At the tennis level, obviously I’m worried that he can play again and he can arrive at Roland-Garros prepared, which is the main objective,” Lopez said. “But it worries me more on a personal level, that a player who has been succeeding all his life, is now going through this, so hopefully he recovers soon, if it can be in Madrid then great. People are waiting for him, they really want to see him playing, the people of Madrid always give him a lot of love every time he plays, so I am worried that this problem will last a little longer in time.”

“I’m hopeful that the injury won’t be that bad and in 1-2 weeks to have him back” – Lopez on Nadal

Lopez, who has said that this would be his last year as a pro on the tour, added that he hoped Nadal would not have to bid goodbye to the sport like Roger Federer did last year. The Swiss played a doubles match at the Laver Cup after a year on the sidelines due to knee injury which prevented him from making a comeback to the tour as he had hoped to.

“It hurts me that he is going through this, just like it happened to Federer, who had to retire without being able to play, playing a doubles match, although it was quite a reason, but I do not think it was what he had dreamed after everything he has achieved. I’m hopeful that the injury won’t be that bad and in 1-2 weeks to have him back.”