Rafa Nadal has delivered the news that no tennis fan wanted to hear but many were expecting: that a persistent hip injury had forced him to withdraw from the French Open and that 2024 will almost likely his final year in the sport. The 22-time grand slam champion fronted a widely anticipated press conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca to drop the bombshell on devastated fans all around the world.
Nadal struggled with a hip injury that saw him go down to Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets in the second round of the Australian Open in January. The 36-year-old had initially been expected to recover in time for the clay court season in preparation for his bid to claim a record-extending 15th title at the French Open.
However, after revealing that his recovery had not gone as well as expected, Nadal pulled out of all the clay court lead-in tournaments, prompting fears he would have to miss the Roland Garros grand slam for the first time in 19 years. The 14-time French Open champion – who has only lost three matches on the Parisian clay – confirmed the sad news and added that 2024 will almost certainly be his final year in tennis.
“It’s not a decision I’m taking, it’s a decision my body is taking,” he said. “My goal and my ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year that will probably be my last year in the professional tour. That is my idea but I can’t say 100 per cent it will be like this, but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me.
“To enjoy being competitive and something that today is not possible. I believe, if I keep going now, I will not be able to make it happen.” Nadal said it became abundantly clear in recent days that he simply would not be able to compete at Roland Garros to the levels he wanted.
