Alexander Zverev 's gruesome injury in the French Open semi-finals was a reminder of how fragile a career in sport can be, and Rafael Nadal is eager to heed the warning.
The 13-time Roland Garros champion turned 36 on the same day Zverev's sprain forced the German to retire at 6-7, 6-6 down in their semi-final clash. Nadal has long suffered with a chronic foot issue and has been affected over the past year by Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative condition affecting the foot.
In addition to back and rib injuries the veteran has been forced to endure in recent times, it's understandable that rumours of retirement are gathering momentum. And extending his career (and quality of life) appears to be a priority for Nadal, who was asked if he would prefer a 14th French Open triumph over a new foot if granted one wish.
"I would prefer to lose Sunday's final and get a new foot," he told reporters during the Spanish portion of his press conference following Friday's win by default. "I would be happy with my life with a new foot. Win is beautiful, but life is much more important than any title. Especially after the career that I had."
There has been speculation as to whether the 'King of Clay' is playing what will be his final major at Roland Garros. His 13 titles in Paris are five more than the nearest rival, or seven more if accounting only for the Open Era.
Nadal appeared to hint his playing days could be coming to their conclusion after beating long-time rival Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the quarter-finals. However, he later scrambled to clarify he was not seeking an exit before his time.
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"At no time do I want this to seem like a farewell," he told Spanish channel RTVE. "We will continue working to find solutions to what is happening down with my foot. I trust and hope to be able to return. This last year has been difficult.
"Day to day, with everything that it entails, has been difficult not just because of all the effort but to stay competitive. And I play to be competitive. It’s what makes me really happy. We will keep thinking about the things we need to improve and the desire is to continue.”
Zverev's hopes of featuring at Wimbledon could be dented by the ankle injury he suffered in Paris. Nadal will face Casper Ruud in the French Open final on Sunday when he hopes to boost his Grand Slam cushion over Djokovic by clinching a 22nd major trophy.
