Carlos Alcaraz leads tributes to Rafael Nadal following French Open withdrawal - 'Very painful and sad'

Carlos Alcaraz has led the reaction to the news that Rafael Nadal will not defend his French Open title. Nadal has been sidelined since picking up an injury at the Australian Open at the start of 2023.

Ad When he said last month that his return had been delayed due to a misdiagnosis of his injury, eyebrows were raised as to whether he would be fit to defend a title he has won on 14 occasions. Roland-Garros'One of the best in history' — Medvedev hopes Nadal returns to action soonAN HOUR AGO On Thursday, Nadal confirmed he would be absent from Roland-Garros, and that he would take as much time out as needed to get fit.

«Today I'm still in a position that I am not able to feel myself ready to compete at the standards that I need to be [at] to play a Roland-Garros,” Nadal said. “I am not the guy that is going to be at Roland-Garros and just try to be there and put myself in a position that I don't like to be [in].” With Nadal absent, Alcaraz is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the title in Paris and he has wished his fellow Spaniard well in his recovery.

Rafael Nadal's French Open triumphs remembered as he withdraw from this year's tournament With Rafael Nadal out, who are top contenders for French Open? Alcaraz wrote: “Lots of encouragement Rafa! Very painful and sad for everyone that you can't be at Roland Garros or play more this year, but wishing that 2024 will be a great season for you and you can say goodbye as the great champion you are!” The tournament director of Roland-Garros, Amelie Mauresmo, expressed her disappointment following the news. “I’m so disappointed for Rafael Nadal, who has had to withdraw from Roland-Garros, his favourite tournament,» Mauresmo said.