‘Will His Body Hold Up?’- Andy Roddick Explores Limitations of Rafael Nadal Amid His Electrifying Stint At the Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal recently showed signs of getting back on track at the Madrid Open. Stepping on the courts after a long time, the Spaniard appeared to be struggling with his body during his run in Barcelona. Now that he has started to hit back in Madrid with a massive victory over Alex De Minaur, he not only moved ahead in the tour but also showed surprising signs of recovery. However, despite the positive gesture, it seems like doubts about his upcoming matches still exist in the minds of tennis pros.

Recently, former tennis star Andy Roddick expressed reservations about Rafael Nadal’s ability to sustain his recent comeback. Still doubtful due to concerns over his physical condition, the former pro found it hard to believe that he could be consistent.

Analyzing Rafa’s performance at the Barcelona Open where he suffered a defeat against Alex De Minaur, Roddick highlighted the crucial nature of matches for Nadal’s gameplay. “But if Rafa is healthy, he is the type of player that needs matches, right? And simply the more matches he gets, the better he’s going to be,” he stated. Although he acknowledged improvements in Nadal’s serve and tactics, Roddick remained doubtful about his physical strength, questioning, “Will his body hold up?”

Along with that, Roddick also highlighted the important role of creating a space for his forehands. “He’s taking that back in and just absolutely rushing it to the forehand side to create space. If he can keep that one on radar lock, it has his range,” Roddick added. Drawing a conclusion for his narrative on the Spaniard, the former pro said that it would be “very difficult” if Rafa gets to play more matches and set things right. But the fact that his time in tennis may be coming to an end does not sit well with fans and well-wishers on the ATP Tour.

Carlos Alcaraz finds it hard to see Rafael Nadal leave

Rafael Nadal has expressed before that he wants 2024 to be his last year as a professional tennis player. The tennis star, who ruled the era of clay court dominance and received multiple other achievements, is living the last of the moments of his enduring legacy in the sport.

Realizing it to be a saddening incident, young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz gave out an emotional verdict on this. “I don’t want to imagine it (tennis without Rafael Nadal) yet. Like every fan of Rafa, of tennis, no one wants to imagine the circuit without Rafa,” he said.

With active players like Carlos Alcaraz finding it hard to say goodbye to the ‘King of Clay’, it still remains to be seen if he will be able to get his body ready for the stress.