Martina Navratilova assesses how big of a loss Rafael Nadal French Open absence is

Martina Navratilova says Rafael Nadal’s French Open absence left “a massive hole that nobody can fill.” 

Nadal, a record 14-time French Open champion, made his main draw debut at Roland Garros in 2005 – when he as a teenager became a Grand Slam champion.

Between 2005 and 2022, Nadal made 18 consecutive French Open appearances and became an absolute icon at Roland Garros. 

Nadal, who sustained an injury to his psoas muscle in Australia, suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery and was forced to miss the French Open. 

“A massive hole. When somebody has dominated a tournament as much as Rafa has dominated this. For almost two decades, it has been Rafael Nadal against the field. Now everybody thinks they have a chance to win because Rafa’s not there. Even though he hasn’t been playing, it’s a massive, massive hole that nobody can fill,” Navratilova said on Tennis Channel.

Navratilova feels Nadal’s French Open absence left ‘a massive hole’

With Nadal out of the French Open, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are widely considered the two very top favorites for the title.

Djokovic, a two-time French Open champion, jokingly said he is not really missing Nadal at Roland Garros. 

“Honestly, I don’t miss him being in the draw. I don’t like seeing him in the draw of Roland Garros. I have had not so much success against him in our head-to-head record in Roland Garros. I’ve managed to beat him twice, but I had to leave my heart and my guts out on the court to achieve that. A lot of people retired him already 10 years ago but he kept going, which is something I respect and admire. I know how hard it is to maintain that level and keep going even after having a tough injury,” Djokovic said.

It remains to be seen who will win the French Open in the absence of Nadal.