Bjorn Borg performed coy as he was requested about Rafael Nadal’s possibilities on the French Open. The Swedish tennis legend was considered the ‘King of Clay’ earlier than Nadal burst onto the scene, and Borg now counts him as a “good friend".

Nadal has raised doubts over his French Open chances as he continues to battle with a psoas injury he picked up at the Australian Open almost four months ago. The world No 14 recently pulled out of the Rome Masters after missing Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.

The 36-year-old’s latest withdrawal came after he announced he was changing his treatment plan after missing the Madrid Open. And he did give a somewhat positive update when confirming his absence in Italy as he said there had already been “improvements” although he nonetheless wasn’t able to compete.

Borg has now weighed into Nadal’s hopes of enjoying on the French Open, the place the Spaniard is a 14-time champion. “Rafa is a good friend of mine. I know he’s struggling a little bit with his body, I’ve known that for a long time,” the 11-time Grand Slam champion advised Eurosport.

While the retired tennis icon shared his hopes to see Nadal in Paris, he confessed that the 36-year-old wouldn’t compete if his body still wasn’t ready. Borg added: “Unfortunately, he’s not going to play Rome, but we want to see him at the French Open.

“If he’s not going to be fit, he’s not going to play. But Rafa is Rafa, he’s one of the greatest ever to play the game. I hope he is going to play the French Open.”