The 38-year-old has clarified whether he will retire from tennis after dropping a major hint over his plans for 2025.
Rafael Nadal discussed his retirement plans on Spanish TV (Image: X.com/@El_Hormiguero)
Rafael Nadal has hinted a final swansong at the French Open is “an option” as the veteran tennis icon prepares for what could be his final year on the ATP Tour.
Nadal previously hinted 2024 would be his final year in the sport before bowing out due to the mounting injury problems he has faced. He only returned to action briefly after a hip injury kept him out of the 2023 season, before missing another chunk of the tour.
The 38-year-old made it back in time for the French Open, where he is a 14-time champion, only to fall at the first hurdle in straight sets to Alexander Zverev.
Nadal recovered a few weeks later to reach the final at the Sweden Open in Bastad before playing doubles with Carlos Alcaraz at the Olympics in Paris.
During that time, he has fielded a constant stream of questions about his future. And while Nadal is under no illusions his career is coming to an end, he asked the media to let him enjoy the little time he has left by stopping the barrage of retirement reminders.
“It’s an option [to play again at Roland Garros], right now the goals are over and I’m giving myself time. I’m enjoying training and other things in life,” Nadal said in an interview with El Hormiguero.
“I understand that I’m retiring. It’s been a long time, I’ve had a lot of physical problems and the question is normal.
“There comes a time when I can’t live with [the idea of] retirement, because otherwise you don’t finish trying. I’ve given myself some time to enjoy tennis after a year and a half off the court and that’s what I’m doing, enjoying the day to day.
“In the end, I’m giving myself time and making my decision when I’m clear about it. I try to do things as well as possible. I ask that they don’t bring up my retirement in every press conference because otherwise I end up believing that I’m going to retire.”
Rafael Nadal, seen watching Real Madrid against Mallorca, has been enjoying his downtime (Image: Getty)
Nadal confirmed he would not be returning to the court this season after choosing to sit out of the US Open due to not being 100 per cent
And while he admitted there is some disappointment at how the year has unfolded, he refused to rule out an emotional return to Roland Garros for his final farewell.
“Right now my goals for the year are over, I haven’t achieved what I would have liked to achieve,” he added.
“I hoped to be healthier than I was, the injury at the beginning of the year was unexpected. I think I arrived at the time I most wanted, but I had an unsuitable draw at Roland Garros.”
