Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert believes Rafael Nadal sounds ‘weary’, as fears continue to grow about the Spaniard’s fitness and future. Nadal is set to take on Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final of the French Open on Tuesday evening.
Nadal dropped a huge hint that he could well be contemplating retirement from tennis, after admitting this could be his last visit to Roland Garros - an event he has won 13 times - and the last outing of his career. The Spaniard - who has endured fitness issues in recent weeks - saw off Canada's Felix Auger Aliassime in a gruelling five-set clash on Sunday.
Speaking after the match the 21-time Grand Slam champion said: “I am in the quarter finals of Roland-Garros. I am just enjoying the fact I am here for one more year.
“Being honest, every match that I play here I do not know if it will be the last match here in Roland-Garros in my tennis career. That is my situation now. I went through a tough process again with my foot. I do not know what will happen in the near future with my career, so I am just trying to enjoy and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream.
“I hope to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible and then let’s see.” These comments have left many within the tennis world wondering just how long Nadal has left in his remarkable playing career, including former American star Evert.
She told Eurosport : “He [Nadal] is sounding weary. There is so much more that comes with being a professional tennis player than playing a match, but he sounded tired. The respect I have for him because he is 35 years old and he can keep getting psyched up every single day for these matches.
“I started burning out in my early 30s. When I woke up in the morning I didn’t have anything in me, so I don’t know where he gets this passion and fire in his belly from. I am sure with the injury, I don’t want to say he is falling apart, but you get a little more affected by the playing and training.
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“It is going to happen, whether it is next year, two years, three years. I would not give him more than two or three years to play tennis.” As well as concerns over his fitness, Nadal is also worried about the start time of his match, after the blockbuster clash was selected in the evening session at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
Discussing his issues about playing on the French clay at night, the Spaniard said: “I don’t like night sessions on clay. I am very clear with that. I don’t like to play on clay during the night, because humidity is higher, the ball is slower, and can be very heavy conditions especially when it’s cold. I think that makes a big difference who plays tennis on clay during the night and during the day.”
