Former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza has stated that Rafael Nadal is ready to retire and enjoy the finer things in life away from tennis. She says that Nadal’s body and mind just seem to be saying that.
Nadal’s remarkable career is about to come to an end, but his farewell tour in 2024 hasn’t exactly gone as planned since he withdrew from yet another prestigious competition.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner has now confirmed that he will no longer compete for Team Europe in the yearly team event, dispelling rumours that he might retire following the Laver Cup.
In addition, he was forced to withdraw from both the US Open and Wimbledon this year due to injury. He did, however, participate in the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris and played both singles and doubles, losing both matches early.
She talked about it and said: “He’s so ready. His body, his mind, just everything. It’s time to also enjoy his kid! I see him smiling all the time with his baby. I’m like, ‘Why are you on the court still? Go home, take the boat, and go to Mallorca.’ I think he gave everything he had.”
However, Muguruza affirms that the 2024 tennis season will essentially be his final one. She added: “It’s hard to know him. He’s very shy. We talked a little bit at the Laureus Awards in Madrid earlier this year. He said, ‘This is my last year,’ but he didn’t share anything else. I don’t want to ask him personal questions.”
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Ranked world no.154, the Spaniard played his last match on the 29th of July when he surrendered to world no.4 Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris (draw).
Currently, during this season Nadal owns a compiled 12-7 record. Rafael Nadal’s best result of the current year was reaching the final in Bastad.