Andy Murray supports 'unfortunate' Rafael Nadal snub at French Open - 'Quite hard to do'

Andy Murray thinks it's reasonable that Rafael Nadal didn't receive a seeded spot, since it could establish uncertain standards for future events.

For Nadal, Roland Garros has become a symbol of his success as he has managed to emerge as the champion a whopping 14 times at this prestigious tournament.

He was given the nickname 'King of Clay' throughout his career, and it was speculated that the 2024 competition would likely be his final one.

A year ago, Nadal acknowledged that he might retire soon because he was struggling with injuries.

Due to his limited involvement in tennis, the Spanish player's position in the rankings has decreased, causing him to no longer be among the seeded players.

Andy Murray agrees with the choice of not granting Rafael Nadal a seed.

Despite having a protected ranking, he did not qualify as one of the highest seeded players for the French Open.

Nadal was in danger of facing a challenging match in the first round, and unfortunately, that's exactly what happened as he was matched up against the third-ranked player in the world, Alexander Zverev.

Before Murray's French Open first-round match against Stan Wawrinka, someone asked him about Nadal's ranking position.

"In my opinion, it seems reasonable," stated Murray.

I believe the situation at Wimbledon was a bit unique. Many athletes refrained from playing on grass courts, and would simply show up at the tournament without any prior matches under their belt.

There were times when many of the best tennis players who specialize in playing on clay courts didn't think it was worth their time to participate in the Wimbledon tournament.

In my opinion, the current situation has changed. Most players prioritize their participation in the major tournaments and Grand Slams. When looking at how the draws are organized, it seems like unfortunate circumstances for Rafael Nadal.

He stated: "In my opinion, the seeding system is appropriate, however, it's unfortunate how it has played out in this situation."

I am uncertain how one can determine the appropriate seeding for an individual based on their past achievements or performance.

It would be a challenging task to accomplish, and then there arises a query regarding the players who hold the 32nd position in the global rankings: is it unjust for them?

There is a possibility that Rafael Nadal might compete in his last French Open.

Can you take any actions that may have an impact on the outcome? I'll need to wait and assess whether it was a wise decision or not. I wanted to try it out and see if it could bring about a change.

Even though golfers wouldn't use the same clubs from 25 years ago and Formula One cars have evolved over the years, tennis players seem to be stuck in their ways and hesitant to make changes in their sport.

I had a strong feeling that it was the right moment to test whether it could have an impact. It was something that intrigued me and I didn't want any regrets in my career, questioning if it could have helped me. I must say I have been quite pleased with the experience. It also gave me a boost in the last few weeks.