Breaking News: Rafael Nadal may have one last huge goal which may not be possible due to…
Rafael Nadal has not played since the Paris Olympics, which were his main goal of the season after the French Open. The former world number 1 – 14-time Roland Garros champion – immediately faced Alexander Zverev on the court Philippe Chatrier and was defeated despite a decent performance.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion beat Hungarian veteran Marton Fucsovics in the first round of the Olympic tournament before suffering a clear defeat against his eternal rival Novak Djokovic. The Spanish legend also played doubles with his young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, but the two champions were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the American specialists Ram and Krajicek having to abandon the dream of winning a medal together.
Despite the efforts made in recent months and improvements from a physical point of view, Rafa’s level is still far from expectations. Nadal missed the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open, while a few days ago it was announced that he will not even participate in the 2024 edition of the Laver Cup (scheduled for this weekend in Berlin).
Update on Rafa’s future
Rafa’s season is set to continue with the ‘Six Kings Slam‘ in Saudi Arabia next month, but there are no certainties about his schedule at this time. According to some insiders, the 22-time Grand Slam champion could help Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November. Spain qualified thanks to the crucial contribution of Carlos Alcaraz and Roberto Bautista Agut, who made a comeback after last year’s disappointment.
Three wins to win the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga from first in the Group B. Spain defeated the Czech Republic, France and Australia by winning 7 of 9 matches. The last, the decisive double in the challenge with the Australians, was decisive for winning the round. Pedro Martinez and Marcel Granollers beat Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the comeback. Captain David Ferrer has said he is proud of his boys – he also had Carlos Alcaraz – and has given hope to see Rafael Nadal on the pitch in the quarter-finals of the competition next November.
“An incredible feeling, we played all the games very well, although it was not easy. They believed so much in themselves, I couldn’t be happier for them. These are moments of huge happiness. I can only congratulate all my players for the confidence they have had in their tennis. Happy for them and also for me, this week lived Valencia is a beautiful memory that we will carry with us forever. The word that defines this team is courage. Courage to overcome difficult times. It would have been impossible to achieve this result without this quality,” said Ferrer during the press conference.
“Nadal? I talked to him, but we still don’t know anything. There is a possibility that he can be with us in November in Malaga. His goal was the Olympics this year, then he stopped. He needed to rest and spend time with his family, so it was only fair not to call him now. I will talk to him later. The important thing is that he’s fine. If he arrived in good condition in November, he would definitely be a player you can count on. There is plenty of time to define the team that will play in Malaga. Now they have to focus on tournaments. I have many good players to choose from. It’s a positive thing, but at the same time negative: someone will have to be excluded. At the moment I don’t have 100% clear ideas. I just know that this week they gave me an immense joy”.
Navratilova opens up on Nadal
The feeling is that Rafa is choosing the right moment to announce his decision. The former world number 1 will hardly accept to continue playing at this level, unable to compete for the main titles. In a recent interview with Sky Sports Tennis, WTA legend Martina Navratilova reflected on Nadal’s future: “It depends on how much desire there is. If you’re just battling your body – you really want to play but it’s not letting you – then I would just give in. He has had an unbelievable career. A much longer career than we all thought he would have because of the physicality of his style. That foot has been bothering him for years. And, man, if I lived in Mallorca and had his lifestyle, his boat, I think I would hang it up.”
The Spanish ace has shocked fans and the world over many times during his long career, as he did in 2022 winning two consecutive Grand Slam titles. It seems unlikely that he will succeed this time.
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