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Tennis enthusiasts, and in particular those from Paris, as well as the organizers of the Roland Garros themselves, were in suspense waiting for news from the defending champion Iga Swiatek regarding her health conditions.
After the sensational announcement of a forfeit by Rafael Nadal, in fact, the fans saw the real risk of a renunciation even by the number 1 in the world materialize. Her withdrawal against Elena Rybakina in Rome triggered the alarm, which however Swiatek promptly turned off with a post on social media in which she reassured everyone about her form and that, barring surprises, she will regularly attend the Roland Garros.
Iga Wrote: "Update, I need a few days off for sure. We're booking tickets to Paris, so... fingers crossed. I hope to see you soon. I will be back on the playing fields soon because the injury shouldn't be anything serious. I was right to stop to avoid further problems.
I just need to recover, I'll take a couple of days off, but I have plenty of time to train before the Roland Garros."
??Quick update.A couple of days off for sure. And booking my flight to Paris, so...fingers crossed, please!
Hopefully, see you soon.
??Update.Potrzebuję na pewno kilku dni odpoczynku. Bilety do Paryża rezerwujemy, więc... trzymajcie kciuki. Mam nadzieję - do zobaczenia niedługo pic.twitter.com/k8TO8cuROr — Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) May 18, 2023
Swiatek will be in Paris, Nadal out
If on the one hand there is Swiatek who smiles and above all makes the fans smile, reassuring them of her presence in Paris, on the other there is another absolute protagonist who experiences the diametrically opposite situation.
After weeks of total silence, Rafael Nadal appeared before journalists on May 18 at a specially organized press conference to update everyone on his form moment and his future plans. Words came out of the Spaniard's mouth regarding the renunciation of Roland Garros, his 'natural habitat', but above all that the 2024 season will perhaps be his last on the tour.
Rafa: "The injury didn't heal as we wanted, we worked a lot to try to get back on the court. But it's impossible for me to play Roland Garros. It's a shame after many years, it's a great appointment for me. It's hard, but my body has decided for me.
I won't play for the next few months as well, as the results of the last few months have been of a low level. I want to play continuously, I've always had so many injuries. It's difficult when it's so complicated to work. There have been major victories, but the reality is that they have been complicated.
In the last few months I've worked so hard to come back, but I couldn't make it. I want to take the time to recover and get back to the highest level possible. I won't give a return date, when I'm ready mentally and physically I'll be back.
One goal could be to go back to playing the Davis Cup and start 2024 well, with the guarantee of being able to be competitive. Maybe 2024 will be the last year in the court."