Currently ranked No. 4, Rafael Nadal is in danger of being seeded outside the Top 5 at the French Open, which he has won nine times. The former No. 1 is the defending champion in Madrid this week, and defending a runner-up finish in Rome the following week. He could fall even further after Roland Garros, where he is also the defending champion.
"We will see how far I have fallen after Roland Garros," Nadal said. "This is part of sport. Other times I have been able to maintain a high ranking because I have returned quickly, but this has not been the case now. If you have injuries that keep you out for six months then that is six months without picking up any points and it is difficult to hold your position over a year."
This year on clay, Nadal lost in the semifinals of Rio de Janiero to Fabio Fognini and then won Buenos Aires, but over the last month lost to Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo and again to Fognini in Barcelona.
Nadal, who had switched to a new Babolat frame, is going back to his previous racquet for Madrid. "I have decided to do it because I have played with it for many years, and I had only a few days to prepare with the new racket ahead of Monte Carlo," Nadal said. "There is nothing wrong with the other racket, it is perfectly fine and I just need more time to practice with it. I am conscious that I have less control."