Daniil Medvedev insists Rafael Nadal remains a French Open favourite

Daniil Medvedev predicts that Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion, will be the last player standing at Roland Garros despite struggling with injury.

Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, has only played four matches this year, with the last being a second-round loss at the Australian Open on January 18.

The 36-year-old has been plagued with a hip injury since the Melbourne Park tournament and withdrew from the Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, and Barcelona Open.

Nadal's schedule includes the Madrid Open and Italian Open, but his lack of matches could be compensated by his previous performance at the French Open.

"It's like before the tournament here. It doesn't change for me," said Medvedev.

"If I'm able to play well and I reach the semi-final and then I see there is no Rafa or Novak, it changes.

"Although now Rafa is not as well ranked, I might meet him before, but for the time being, I believe Rafa will play the French Open, although I'm not in his body. I don't want to talk for him.

"But he will be a favourite, even if he didn't play before. He won 14 times this Grand Slam, so he will be the favourite.

"It doesn't change anything for me, but if I go far in the tournament, then the draw becomes easier if there are not those two guys who won 44 Grand Slams."

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