Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that 2024 would likely be his final year in professional tennis.
The news of his imminent retirement came at the same press conference where the tennis legend announced he had withdrawn from this year’s French Open due to an ongoing hip injury. He has no date for his return to court.
“I hope to give myself the opportunity to enjoy next year, that’s probably going to be my last year in the professional tour,“ Nadal said. “That’s my idea, even [though] I can’t say that 100%.”
The King of Clay, who hasn’t missed Roland Garros since 2004, suffered a left hip flexor injury during this year’s Australian Open and was supposed to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Nadal said in late February he hoped to be able to return by the summer after pulling out of the Miami Open and Indian Wells, though he noted in an April update that the injury was still not healed and he pulled out of other tune-up tournaments. In his Thursday press conference, he said his team was “not able to find the solution” to the Australian Open injury.
Nadal’s 2022 French Open title was his 14th and, at the time, gave him a two-trophy edge in Grand Slams over legends Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with 22. Djokovic equalized with his ’23 Australian Open title win, and fans and the Joker himself hoped the two would battle head-to-head for a record No. 23 at Nadal’s main event.
With 2024 likely serving as Nadal’s swan song, it’ll be quite the year for the 36-year-old who first hoisted the French Open trophy—his first ever Grand Slam—in 2005. Not only will he have the opportunity to compete for one more major title on the court he’s dominated, but the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will also be hosted at Roland Garros. It may be Nadal’s last opportunity to add one more medal to his two golds and one more French Open title to his record 14 for good measure.
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— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 18, 2023
