Paris: Fourteen-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal hinted that this year’s tournament in Paris might not be his final appearance, speaking ahead of his challenging match against fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
The Spaniard, who will turn 38 next month, sat out last year’s tournament due to a hip injury that required surgery and has previously stated his intention to retire by the end of 2024. However, he refrained from reaffirming those plans during remarks made on Saturday.
“If I have to tell you it’s 100% my last Roland Garros, sorry but I will not, because I cannot predict what’s going on. I hope you understand,” Nadal addressed a crowded press conference.
“I don’t want to close 100% the door, because it’s a very simple thing. First, I’m enjoying playing tennis,” he continued, highlighting his relatively good health and unrestricted play.
“Maybe in one month and a half I’ll say ‘OK, it’s enough, I can’t keep going.’ But today I cannot guarantee that it’s going to be the last one.”
Having skipped the Australian Open in January due to a muscle issue, the 22-times Grand Slam champion had raised concerns about his fitness for the year’s second major after experiencing lingering problems in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome.
“I’m feeling better. That’s the truth. Not because I’m here,” Nadal remarked, displaying a more upbeat demeanor than in recent months.
“Probably because we did things to try to feel better and we have been working without a stop to keep going with the process, to try to arrive here in a proper way.”
Looking ahead to Monday’s showdown with Zverev, Nadal acknowledged the challenge but remained optimistic.
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“It’s a super-tough first round. Maybe I go there and I repeat the disaster of Rome. It’s a possibility. I don’t want to hide that,” Nadal admitted, referencing a recent defeat in Rome.
“But in my mind is something different, play much better and give myself a chance to be competitive… I didn’t play this level of opponents, being competitive since a super-long time.”
Nadal concluded, “So all these questions I understand that you’re making to me I’m asking to myself too. But the answer is going to be on Monday, no? That’s it. The rest of the things are just talking and talking, and in the end don’t matter. It’s about my feelings and my feelings are better. I want to enjoy that match.”
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French Open Kickoff: Nadal’s Match
After the culmination of the qualification rounds, Roland Garros, also known as the French Open, officially commences on May 26th and will culminate on June 9th. Mark your calendars as Rafael Nadal gears up to compete in a first-round clash on May 27th against Alexander Zverev.
