Rafael Nadal will be ready come French Open: Serena Williams' former coach

Rafael Nadal will be ready to compete at his highest level at the 2023 French Open, according to top tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou. The Frenchman feels that the Spanish tennis legend's hopes are pinned on Roland Garros to extend his tally in the Grand Slam race and he will give it his all in Paris.

Mouratoglou also highlighted the key to success for Nadal at the French Open.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from next week's Monte-Carlo Masters due to a prolonged recovery spell from a hip injury that has sidelined him since the Australian Open. Nadal is expected to make his comeback at the Barcelona Open in a couple of weeks.

As the Spaniard nears a comeback, Mouratoglou reflected on the importance of the French Open for the 14-time champion in Paris.

"He knows if there is one he can win, it's this one, more than any other," Patrick Mouratoglou said in a video on his social media channel. "So all his program, whatever he's done since the Australian Open, his number one goal is to win Roland Garros. So he will be ready."

Mouratoglou stressed that the biggest indicator of the Spaniard's level upon comeback will be his movement on the court. As per Mouratoglou, who has formerly coached Serena Williams and Simona Halep, Nadal has modified his game a lot over the years, but movement remains his biggest weapon.

"Rafa is a player that progresses match after match. He needs matches. The older he gets, the less matches he needs because the more he's mastering his game. Most important for him will be movement, because it's the base of his game. Originally, a player who was defending a lot, he's not anymore. He has developed a lot of weapons. But still, movement is the base of his game," Mouratoglou added.

He further highlighted that the 36-year-old favors his forehand more than any other shot, and to keep hitting forehands, he will need to move very well.

"Rafa is a player, when at his best, who is hitting 80 percent forehands. Even though his backhand improved, he dictates with his forehand. That's his weapon. To hit 80 percent forehands, you have to move incredibly well, especially at the back."

"So that's the number one thing to monitor to assess his level on clay match after match, tournament after tournament until he's in Roland Garros," the Frenchman explained.

Andrey Rublev picks Rafael Nadal to win French Open 2023

Andrey Rublev believes Rafael Nadal is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2023 French Open for his 15th title at Roland Garros and 23rd Grand Slam singles title. The Russian player suggested that he does not even need to explain why the Spaniard is the favorite to win the tournament, such has been his dominance on clay. Nadal has only ever lost three matches at the French Open.

"I mean I need to say why Nadal? After 18 years of winning everything on clay," Andrey Rublev said when asked for his prediction.

If he does make a return at the Barcelona Open, the Mallorca native will have three tournaments in the build-up to the French Open, including Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, where he has won a combined 15 titles. He last won the Madrid Masters in 2018 and the Italian Open in 2021.

What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here