Rafael Nadal 'can't play properly for a long time' as Boris Becker weighs in on injury

Rafael Nadal has been told his latest injury will be "a big setback" in his hopes of winning the upcoming French Open. The world No 4 suffered a stress fracture in his rib during Indian Wells which has so far kept him out of Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker has shared his own experience with a similar injury and admitted it takes a "long time" to play "properly" again.

Nadal has been sidelined for four to six weeks as a result of the rib injury he picked up in his Indian Wells semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz. The 21-time Major champion is expected to be back in time for the two Masters 1000s in Madrid and Rome, and the all-important French Open according to his recovery timeframe.

But retired former world No 1 Becker has warned the Spaniard that he might not be ready for "a long time", putting his hopes to win a record-extending 14th French Open and 22nd Grand Slam title under threat. "Nadal was actually considered invincible until he injured himself in the semi-final against Alcaraz, who played for over three hours," the German told Eurosport.

Becker, who won Wimbledon aged 17, shared his own experience with a similar injury as he continued: "Something must be wrong with his rib. I had that once too. It hurts a lot and it takes a long time until you can play properly again because you need it to breathe. And especially now for the clay court season, this is of course a big setback for him."

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Nadal started the season on a 20-0 match-winning streak, picking up titles in Melbourne, Acapulco and the Australian Open before his winning ways came to an end in the Indian Wells final, where he lost to Taylor