PARIS: Rafael Nadal has suffered a thigh injury that has put him in doubt for the Paris Olympics, his coach Carlos Moya said on Thursday.
The 14-time French Open winner is expected to play in the men's singles and doubles alongside rising star and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros.
“He had some discomfort yesterday (Wednesday) morning,” Moya told Spanish radio.
“He was more restricted in the afternoon and decided to stop before it got worse.
Nadal, 38, did not practice on Thursday, which Moy said was “the most responsible thing”.
“Don't force it at this point and see if he recovers well,” he added. “We'll see how he is tomorrow and Saturday.”
Nadal returned to tennis this year after an extended absence with a hip injury and last weekend reached his first ATP final since winning the 2022 French Open in Bastad before losing to Portugal's Nuno Borges.
He is scheduled to face Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in the first round of singles on Sunday, a day after partnering Alcaraz in the doubles.
If Nadal beats Fucsovics, he would set up a possible second-round meeting with arch-rival Novak Djokovic.
“I can't guarantee anything, not even that he won't or will play,” Moya said. “At the moment he needs to rest, undergo treatment.
“He's obviously very excited to play in these Olympics. It's been on his calendar for a few years now.
“He is a natural competitor and wants to play both singles and doubles. He is very excited about the doubles match with Alcaraz. It will be the first time they play together and it will be something historic for Spanish tennis.”
Nadal is a two-time Olympic champion, winning singles gold in Beijing in 2008 and doubles gold alongside Marco Lopez at the 2016 Rio Games.
