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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga claims Rafael Nadal has been a ‘shadow of his former self’ in recent months as he continues to battle injury problems.
Tsonga believes the Spaniard is seeking ‘validation’ so that he can retire from professional tennis on his own accord.
Nadal withdrew from Indian Wells last Wednesday on the eve of his first-round match, insisting he was not ready to participate.
He missed almost the entirety of 2023 after undergoing hip surgery and suffered a fresh injury in that area earlier this year.
Nadal pulled out of the first Grand Slam of 2024 in Melbourne but hoped to return at Indian Wells.
Tsonga, who called a day on his career in 2022, says there is an ‘unknown’ as to how Nadal will fair in the clay court season.
He told L’Equipe: “The real unknown is what Rafa is capable of doing on clay.
Today, on a hard court, we know that he doesn’t move as well, that he’ll never perform as well as he did before.
“On clay today, there’s a real unknown. He had such a margin over the others. Will he be able to hold his own in a tough match today? That’s the real unknown.”
Tsonga says Nadal has nothing to prove but wants to make peace with himself before ending his career.
READ MORE:RAFAEL NADAL WILL BE A ‘REAL UNKNOWN’ ON HIS CLAY-COURT
The Frenchman added: “He’s got nothing left to prove. That’s over. He just wants to reassure himself, to say ‘Okay, that’s it, I can go’.
He’s looking for validation so that he can leave. In truth, he’s been a shadow of his former self for quite a few months now.
“I think he just wants to prove it to himself, to say to himself now, ‘I’m safe to leave, I’m at peace’.”
Nadal revealed his sadness at pulling out of Indian Wells but says he would have been lying to fans if he attempted to play.
He wrote on X: “It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells.
