As Rafael Nadal approaches the twilight of his storied French Open career, the likelihood of him adding to his record 14 titles appears slim. The 22-time Grand Slam champion first captured the Roland Garros crown as a teenager in 2005, and he will celebrate his 38th birthday a week from Monday. Currently ranked 276th in the world, Nadal has played only 15 matches since January last year due to a series of debilitating injuries, including a hip issue and a muscle tear, adding to a litany of physical setbacks that have caused him to miss 12 Grand Slam tournaments throughout his career.

The draw for the 2024 French Open, which will reveal whether this year's tournament will be his 13th appearance, takes place on Thursday afternoon. Despite his recent struggles, Nadal remains determined to give his best effort. "I'm going to play the tournament thinking that I can give my all, 100 per cent," he said after his second-round exit in Rome last week. "And if 100 per cent is not enough to win a match, I'll accept that. But I don't want to step onto court knowing that I have no chance. If there's a 0.01% chance, I want to explore that and give it a go."

Nadal's legacy at Roland Garros is unparalleled, with 112 wins and just three losses, two of which were against his long-time rival Novak Djokovic. His reputation extends beyond his on-court achievements. An estimated 6,000 fans attended his first training session on Court Philippe Chat