‘Not 100 per cent certain this will be my last French Open’: Rafael Nadal hints at possible return in 2025
'Not 100 percent certain this will be my last French Open': Rafael Nadal hints at possible return in 2025
King of Clay Rafael Nadal has hinted at a possible return to the French Open next year as he prepares for the 2024 showpiecewhichstarts on Sunday (May 26). Nadal, a 14-time champion at the FrenchOpenhas been struggling with muscle injury for over a year and is likely to retire at the end of the current tennis season. Nadal will start his French Open 2024 campaign on Monday (May 27) against Olympic champion Alexander Zverev.
Nadal hints at possible return to Roland Garros
"There is a good chance that it will be my last French Open, but I cannot say that I am 100% certain it will be the last,"said the Spaniard.
"Ihave gone through a long recovery process. NowI'mbetter than a month ago. Soina way, Idon'twant to close the door 100%. I love tennis,Itravel with my familyandwe are all happy,”added Nadal.
Now ranked 276th in the world, Nadal will be playing in just his fifth tournament since January 2023. Considering his injury issues and his age, itis predictedthat Nadal will be playing his final French Open. The Spaniard will turn 38 on June 3 and is already running out of gas play at the highest level.
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His challenge at the French Open was made more vulnerable on Thursday when the draws came out. He willbe facingfourth seed Zverevagainstwhom he will be the second-favourite. In his illustrious playing career at the Roland Garros, Nadal has lost only four times and won an unprecedented 14 titles in Paris. While those defeats were shocks considering Nadal was the favourite to win,Monday’smatch against Zverev will be the first time he will walk out as the second favourite in over two decades.
If the current season ends up beingNadal’slasthe will drop curtains on his career with 22 Grand Slam titles. He is only second to Novak Djokovic for most Grand Slam titles won by a male and was at the top of his game for the better part of two decades. He also won two Australian Open and two Wimbledon Open titlesduring his career.