Nadal on retirement: “When the Olympic Games are over, I’ll decide”

After his second-round defeat to Novak Djokovic in Paris, Rafael Nadal said he still had not made up his mind about retirement

Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Olympic Games (Gepa/Panoramic)

Mathieu Canac

July 29, 2024

38 years old. On the scale of a lifetime, that’s still young; on the scale of a career as a top sportsman, it’s near the end. It’s no surprise, then, that after many of his press conferences, Rafael Nadal is asked about his retirement.

His answer has always been the same. He has always explained that he is ‘probably playing his last season’, without setting a precise date and leaving a small door open for 2025. As of now, the Spaniard is committed to playing the Laver Cup in September, the same event where he teamed up with Roger Federer in doubles as part of the Swiss’ final tournament before retiring. Nadal is also on the entry list for the US Open but has said he will decide about playing in New York only once the Olympics are complete.

Every day you want me to retire.
Rafael Nadal

Beaten 6-1, 6-4 by his old rival Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Olympic Games on the clay of Roland Garros on Monday, the Spaniard was once again asked about his future. Of course he was.

And he was clearly a little annoyed about it. “Every day you want me to retire,” he replied to reporters, as reported by L’Équipe in quotes translated by Tennis Majors.

If I feel I’m not competitive enough to continue or not physically ready enough, I’ll let you know. It’s not every day I think about retiring
Rafael Nadal

“I’m trying to do my best every day, I’m trying to look to the future and when the Olympics are over, I’ll make the necessary decisions based above all on the desire and the feelings I have.

“Today (Monday), I don’t know,” he added. “I’ve suffered a lot of injuries over the last two years, so if I feel I’m not competitive enough to continue or not physically ready enough, I’ll let you know. It’s not every day I think about retiring.”

NADAL STILL AIMING FOR THIRD OLYMPIC TITLE

Although out of the singles, Nadal has not said goodbye to his hopes of another Olympic title.

He is still involved in the doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, and is aiming for a third gold medal after the ones he won in the singles in Beijing in 2008, and in the doubles with Marc López in Rio in 2016. And, on the doubles scale, 38 is almost like being in your prime.