Rafael Nadal withdrawal from French Open 2023 has ‘massive impact’ for Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz – Alex Corretja

Nadal, who had been hoping to clinch a record-extending 15th crown at Roland-Garros and pull away from his great rival Djokovic with a 23rd Grand Slam singles title in the process, will now be confined to watching the event on TV.

Instead, it will be Djokovic aiming for that number of majors in the ongoing GOAT tally as the Serb targets a hat-trick of titles in Paris. Equally, Nadal’s compatriot Alcaraz has a wonderful opportunity to open his account on Philippe-Chatrier in his countryman’s absence.

“It has a massive impact,” Corretja told Eurosport’s Arnold Montgault as he reacted to the news and considered the consequences for the likes of Alcaraz and Djokovic.

“Whatever tournament you enter, if Nadal is not there then there is a hole in the draw where you are missing someone. But if it’s Roland-Garros, it’s not a hole, it’s a whole world missing there!

“It is going to start making other players believe that they can win Roland-Garros – more than two hours ago [before Nadal’s announcement]. That is, for sure, something that the players feel.

“It does not necessarily need to be more pressure for the guys that feel they can win Roland-Garros. I think they will feel sad for Rafa, sad for tennis, but relief for themselves, knowing that the biggest guy on earth on clay, in the history of tennis, is not going to be there.

“Whenever you are one of the favourites for the tournament and one of your toughest opponents goes out, you need to deal with yourself and with your own pressure.

“Inside, you feel that you have been given a better chance to win this tournament. This is how they will feel with Rafa not playing.”

When asked specifically about Alcaraz’s chances given Nadal’s withdrawal, Corretja was emphatic.

“It will definitely have an impact on Alcaraz, for sure,” he said. “All eyes will be on him and on Novak and all the other potential favourites but being Spanish and knowing that Rafa is not going to be there, all the attention is going to be on him on the men’s side.

“Knowing Alcaraz, he will be okay to deal with that, I’m sure. He loves that, which is very amazing and very impressive, but he will definitely need to cope with all the attention and everyone asking him about being the favourite and the next Spanish winner, etc.

“His whole team need to work with Carlos even more, just taking all the pressure off him. Losing in Rome was the best thing that could have happened to him because he will have lost a bit of expectation and relaxed a little bit.

“His energy is going to be so high for Roland-Garros. When he starts the tournament, he does not need to think any more about this and can focus only on himself.”

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