Tennis fans have been keeping a hawk-eyed gaze on Monte-Carlo Masters updates for any news on Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard, who has barely played in his comeback season, reportedly has issues with his serve, occurring because of his back injury. While it was the same injury that made him back off from the clay court season last year, this year’s participation is at stake too.

The French tournament is set to begin in just a few days and Rafa’s presence appears to be dicey as he currently awaits a green signal from the medical team. Looking at the latest update on the situation, reports confirmed that the ‘king of clay’ was spotted practicing at his academy in Mallorca, Spain.

While the fact that he was seen practicing could be a positive sign, there’s still no official confirmation from the 37-year-old or his team about his presence at the tournament.

Nadal’s recent absence from competitive play has been a test of patience for the fans, ranging to a series of setbacks. After a prolonged gap due to injury in 2023, he made a comeback attempt earlier this year only to face another setback with a muscle tear near his hip in Brisbane.

Fans are anxiously awaiting news on Nadal’s status, speculating whether he is fully recovered for the highly competitive season ahead. With the tournament set to kick off next Monday, time is ticking for the tennis legend to make a final decision. Meanwhile, the remaining cog in the original Big 3 is so confident of the Spaniard’s talent on clay that he would stake his life on it.

Novak Djokovic decides to put his life in the hands of Rafael Nadal despite his injury status

Although there’s still no clarity on Rafael Nadal’s comeback at the Monte Carlo Masters, Novak Djokovic is up and running for his intense practice sessions. While the Serb keeps on preparing himself without a coach right now, he recently took time to regard Rafa’s amazing legacy on clay courts.

In a recent interview, the Serb was asked a question about who he would bet his life on, winning a single set. Being confident about the dominance that Nadal once possessed, he said, “Nadal on clay. I think it’s obvious.”

Djokovic’s bold response to Nadal’s amazing potential on the clay courts not only acts as enough proof that he could still make it but also calls for an amazing showdown that the fans could possibly witness.

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