Rafael Nadal withdraws from French Open 2023 - Alex Corretja 'feels empty' after Roland-Garros announcement

The news of Rafael Nadal missing the 2023 French Open has got the whole tennis world talking and wondering what could be next for him. Someone who is as disappointed as anyone is fellow Spaniard Alex Corretja. The two-time French Open finalist has given Eurosport his immediate response to the announcement from his compatriot, and he has admitted that it is going to be «very strange» at Roland-Garros without the star, who has 14 crowns in Paris to his name.

Ad «It's very weird,» Corretja told Eurosport in reaction to the news. «It's very unusual to go into Roland-Garros not having Rafa. It is going to be very strange without him.

Roland-Garros'Very painful and sad' — Alcaraz leads tributes to Nadal following French Open withdrawalAN HOUR AGO »I thought that he was going to be able to win, even if he didn't play too many tournaments before because he is Rafa – the greatest guy in history, for sure, on those courts. «I feel empty. It is not going to be the same without Rafa at Roland-Garros.

What he has achieved at the tournament is impossible to repeat, in my opinion. I was hoping he could have a few warm-up tournaments, but given he has taken this decision, it means he was not ready for best-of-five-set matches.» Nadal also said in his press conference that he expected 2024 to be his final year on tour. «I totally understand the decision and I think it is very smart because he has been trying his best in order to be ready for the clay-court season,» Corretja continued.

«If he sees that he is not able to play at Roland-Garros, I think it is time to reset and refresh to give himself time to properly recover for the future. »Only from this, he will know what he needs to do in the future. I think it is very clever, and if he