Rafael Nadal has referred to as a press convention for Thursday, his group have confirmed, after stories emerged claiming that the injured Spaniard will miss the upcoming French Open. The defending champion, a 14-time winner of the Grand Slam, is ready to verify whether or not or not he'll play the event having not competed as soon as at any occasion because the Australian Open in January.

Nadal has been sidelined since choosing up a psoas damage 4 months in the past. The 36-year-old meant to be again in time for the clay season however has to this point missed Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.

It has left his French Open participation doubtful, and the 22-time Major champion will formally affirm whether or not or not he'll compete in Paris on Thursday. The Spaniard's group introduced news of a press convention at his Rafa Nadal Academy in an announcement.

"Rafa Nadal will hold a press conference tomorrow at 4pm (3pm UK) at the Rafa Nadal Academy by MoviStar to inform about his participation in Roland Garros. If he plays or not and the reasons either way will be only be communicated tomorrow," it learn.

The press convention was introduced on Wednesday after some Spanish retailers began to report that Nadal would miss the French Open for the primary time in his profession. The 36-year-old beforehand issued a worrying damage replace when he pulled out of last month's Madrid Masters, wherein he confirmed he was starting a new treatment plan.

"The reality is that the situation is not what we had hoped for. All medical directions have been followed, but somehow evolution has not been what we were initially told and we find ourselves in a situation that is difficult," he stated of the damage he has carried since January.

"The injury is still unhealed and I can't work what I need to compete. I was training, but now a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, do another treatment and see if things improve to try and get to what comes. I can’t give deadlines because if I knew I would tell you but I don’t know. This is the current situation."

The world No 14 later withdrew from the Rome Masters however shared a optimistic replace as he revealed that there had been some "improvements" though he wasn't able to return to competitors.

Since making his predominant draw debut on the French Open in 2005, Nadal has by no means missed the event altogether. He has solely pulled out as soon as - forward of his third-round match in 2016 when he suffered a wrist damage.

If Nadal misses the French Open, he's anticipated to drop out of the world's prime 100 as he defends 2,000 rating factors from profitable the title 11 months in the past. Since lifting the trophy final yr, the Spaniard has performed simply seven tournaments as he has continued to battle a number of damage setbacks.