TENNIS
French Open: Nadal in race against time to be fit for Roland Garros
Nadal is battling to be fit in time to defend the French Open title he won for a 14th time last year
REUTERS/GONZALO FUENTES
Rafael Nadal faces a key decision on Saturday as doubts continue to grow over whether the 22-times grand-slam champion will be fit to compete in the French Open later this month.
At a time when the European clay-court stretch is in full swing at the Italian Open, Nadal has been limited to training at his academy in Mallorca because of a lingering hip injury that has kept him sidelined from the tour since January.
Concerns among his many supporters deepened this week when a short video emerged online of Nadal halting a practice session on Wednesday. Doubled over in clear discomfort, he walked gingerly to his courtside chair for a rest.
Nadal, 36, is understood to have resumed his hit after five minutes, but it
