Rafael Nadal told he will ‘not be a contender’ for Slams in 2024 but taking...

Rafael Nadal will not be a serious contender for any Grand Slams in 2024, even
Roland Garros, says former Serena Williams coach Rick Macci.

Nadal looks on track to return to tennis in January after a year out with a
hip problem, with the Australian Open looking like a realistic target for him.

It is a tournament he has won before immediately after returning from injury,
and he also played through a foot problem on the way to that title in 2022. He
then did the same to win the French Open a few months later.

Macci, who has also coached Andy Roddick, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova,
is far from convinced Nadal has another achievement in him like that again,
though.

“As far as Rafa / coming back, as
you get older, you lose a little mobility and people aren’t afraid when they
know you’re vulnerable,” Macci told Tennis Infinity.

“There’s not that much difference between the guys at the top and then the
next tier, and when they know they have a chance, that’s a whole different
thing, even on clay.”

It is that mental head start that Nadal had before, especially on clay, that
may have been eroded by his injury, according to Macci.

That said, there still won’t be many people hoping to play the Spaniard at
Roland Garros.

Where before against Rafa, he’s 112-3 on clay [at Roland Garros], the match
was over before it even started,” Macci explained.

You knew you weren’t gonna beat the guy more than likely. So, that being said,
I wish Rafa all the best, but he’s not at the exact same level he was before so
I don’t think he’s a contender to win a Slam.

“I think he can be competitive and I think he’s a rough out for anybody on
clay, but it depends on his health.”