In a recent interview with L’Equipe, Rafael Nadal shared promising news that may delight his fans worldwide: he is reconsidering his retirement plans. The 37-year-old Spanish tennis legend revealed he is rediscovering the joy of playing, which has rekindled his passion for the sport.
Nadal explained, “I feel like I’m finding the pleasure of playing again, having fun. I want to give myself a chance to see if my physique remains at this level or if it is only a temporary moment and that it starts to go wrong again.” This newfound enthusiasm has led him to reconsider accepting a tribute at Roland Garros this year, opting instead to leave the door open for potential future participation.
Initially, Nadal was ready to receive the tribute, but after experiencing positive training sessions, he changed his mind. “It would have bothered me to announce that it was the last time I was playing the tournament, knowing that I did not have the opportunity to prepare as I would have liked,” he said.
Nadal emphasized that he is not ready to commit to retirement yet. He stated, “I give myself time to see how I will feel after the Olympic Games and then we will see what will happen, what decisions I will make.”
🥹💪🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal, in his latest interview with L’Equipe, says he’s finding the fun in playing again, which is one of the reasons he went back on his decision to accept a tribute at Roland Garros this year. He’s hoping his body continues at this positive level, which may allow… pic.twitter.com/96E4biAzI2
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) June 15, 2024
Fans and the tennis community eagerly await Nadal’s decision post-Olympics, hopeful that the 22-time Grand Slam champion will continue to grace the courts for another season.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Now the world no.264, Nadal played his last match on the 27th of May when he was defeated by world no.4 Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 in the 1st round of the French Open (draw).
During this season Nadal has managed to achieve an overall 7-5 record.
He is also scheduled to play in Bastad (Nordea Open) after Wimbledon. The main draw will start on the 1st of July.
Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |
