Rafael Nadal’s career may be really close to an end

Rafael Nadal’s career may be really close to an end. The Spanish champion is taking all the time he needs to decide his future, but has already announced that he will not participate in the US Open 2024.

The former world number 1 tried to give himself a last chance to return competitive at high levels this year, but the verdict of the tennis court was unequivocal. The 22-time Grand Slam champion no longer seems able to win the most important titles and his body suffers from the many battles that have characterized his long career.

The Spaniard wanted to participate in his last Olympics in Paris, where he received the honor of being a torch bearer during the opening Ceremony. Rafa was eliminated by Novak Djokovic in singles, proving to be much inferior to the Serbian at this time.

Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated by the Americans Ram and Krajicek in doubles, playing a good tournament but failing to win a medal. The future of the Spanish legend is very uncertain at this time. Only his presence at the 2024 Laver Cup is certain, while some insiders believe he can participate in the Davis Cup Finals later this year.

Rafa is thinking about his future

Rafael Nadal has shocked the world many times during his legendary career, but this time it seems that his decline is inexorable.Rafael Nadal© Getty Images Sport – Mike Stobe

During a long interview with Sky Sports, former British star Naomi Broady discussed Rafa’s current status: “Nadal clearly has a plan in his head but he’s keeping his cards close to his chest. I think Rafa still really enjoys his tennis. They all just love the sport so much and if he can keep going then I think he would like to, which is why I think he didn’t announce his farewell at Roland Garros.

I think he was thinking ‘if there is any chance, any way I can get back here I will be back’. But it’s just going to be dependent on his body and unfortunately his body hasn’t been playing ball. Whether he chooses to do it at the 2024 Laver Cup like Roger Federer did and able to have that really incredible celebration fitting for his career, that would be incredible. I think a lot of people thought he would have chosen to have that sort of celebration at the Olympics – at Roland Garros on Philippe-Chatrier – and playing for his country, but who knows? We just don’t know.”

The Spaniard did not win any title in 2024 and reached only one final, on the red clay of Bastad, but he gave up clearly to Nuno Borges.

Speaking with ‘El Larguero’, former ATP ace and top analyst Alex Corretja opened up on Rafa Nadal’s future: ”The real concern now is to give yourself a achievable goal to have the strength to train again. What if he was helping the Davis Cup team in some way? Maybe by motivating himself to play doubles and bring something to the team that, in September, would put him in the semi-final and, perhaps, if he goes to the finals, he would play in November. How else can I train in Manacor with all the things that are waiting for me? For me, that’s the problem.”

The Spanish legend suffered a lot

Despite having often had to manage injuries and missed many Grand Slam tournaments, the Spanish champion made history in this sport by breaking many records. Many thought his career was close to an end already in 2020-2021, before Rafa shocked everyone by winning the 2022 Australian Open and the 2022 French Open.Rafael Nadal© Clive Brunskill / Staff Getty Images Sport

In the latest edition of his podcast, former American ace Andy Roddick suggested that Rafa’s retirement might be imminent: “The Laver Cup could be a celebration. We’re all better when he’s around. Hopefully we’ll see him in the big finals again. I don’t know. It feels like this could be the end.

I’m certainly not like the greatest players of all time. I can’t figure it out, but I don’t know if he wants to compete for titles in Bastad. I don’t know if it’s his lane. We’ll see. We don’t know what he’ll do, we’re not in his inner circle, but I find it hard to believe that he’ll put in the effort and try to give Roland Garros another chance. But I’ve been wrong about him in the past and any analyst who has an opinion is just guessing.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion may decide to retire as his eternal rival Roger Federer, who played his last match at the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London.