Rafael Nadal had two major announcements Thursday.
The first is that he will not play in this year’s French Open because of a hip injury, which is really big news.
The second announcement is even bigger: Nadal revealed he thinks 2024 will be his final year playing tennis.
It seems as if injuries are the major reason Nadal, 36, might be calling it a career.
“You never know how things will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year,” Nadal told reporters (via ESPN).
This is the first time Nadal will miss the French Open since he began playing there in 2005.
“The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible,” Nadal said.
“I am going to stop, I am not going to train. I am not ready to train,” Nadal continued, alternating answers in Spanish and English. “These have been many months with many moments of frustration, and I can handle frustration, but there comes a time when you have to stop,” he added.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has won most of his titles (14) at Roland Garros, which is a record. It is sad to hear that next year will possibly be his last in tennis.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.