The prospect of Rafael Nadal expanding his grand slam title collection is an unlikely one according to former world No.4 Greg Rusedski.
In an interview with Sporting Life, the 42-year-old believes that due to Nadal’s current wrist problems and his ongoing fitness battle, he is not in a current position to challenge for any of the four major titles.
“I don’t see major titles any more for Rafa.” He told Sporting Life.
“He’s a great champion but I just can’t see it at the moment.
“Rafa’s 2016 was all about the French Open and he suffered a wrist injury again. He lost to Borna Coric in Cincinnati and it doesn’t look like he’s fully healthy.”
Rusedski’s comments come after Nadal suffered an early exit at the Cincinnati Masters. The Spaniard could win only four games during his 6-3, 6-1, loss to Croatia’s Borna Coric. Following his exit from the tournament, the Spaniard openly admitted that he wasn’t in his best shape.
“Borna didn’t give me many chances. He was playing his serve huge. I need to be in better shape to compete.” Nadal recently said.
The 30-year-old has missed two months of the tour this year after damaging a tendon in his wrist. He returned to the tour earlier this month at the Rio Olympic Games, where he won a gold medal in the doubles competition. In the singles competition, Nadal had to settle for fourth place after losing to Kei Nishikori.
Nadal has so far won 14 Grand Slam titles in his career, including a record nine French Open trophies. His last triumph was at Roland Garros in 2014. Since then, the Spaniard has failed to progress beyond the quarter-final stage at any major event.
In next week’s US Open, Nadal will be seeded fourth behind Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. He has won the title in Flushing Meadows twice in his career in 2010 and 2013.
Rafael Nadal’s grand slam titles
2005 French Open
2006 French Open (2)
2007 French Open (3)
2008 French Open (4)
2008 Wimbledon
2009 Australian Open
2010 French Open (5)
2010 Wimbledon (2)
2010 US Open
2011 French Open (6)
2012 French Open (7)
2013 French Open (8)
2013 US Open (2)
2014 French Open (9)
