The final curtains haven’t dropped for Rafael Nadal. The reason you ask? Well, the legend is yet to bid a final goodbye to his favorite sport. While Nadal’s followers thought this season would be full of tears, the Mallorcan legend dismissed them, showing a great sign of positivity. With his recent take on the upcoming Laver Cup, Nadal dropped finally answered the most asked question. So will he retire after this season? Keep reading to find out.
Nadal, who attended the Real Madrid vs Mallorca football match at Son Moix, dropped an interesting statement about his retirement. “I’m in no hurry to make a decision about my future. What is certain is that I will be at the Laver Cup and then we’ll see,” said the Spaniard legend. Nadal, who made a statement about retiring from the sport after the 2024 season, already bid farewell to the Madrid Open after losing against Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round. “I’m happy. It was a very special week for me, very positive in every way. I was able to play again on a court that has given me a lot, also on an emotional level,” he said after his final appearance at the tournament where he lifted five titles.
Nadal’s last performance in Madrid brought speculation about his retirement from Roland Garros. However, This Spaniard mentioned that he is not in a position to say a final goodbye to his favorite Grand Slam, where he won 14 titles. “As you can imagine, we had something planned for him. But … because he doesn’t know if it’s going to be his last Roland Garros or not, he wants to leave the door open maybe to come back next year as a player. So we are not going to push him, obviously, to do anything,” said Roland Garros’ director, Amelie Mauresmo.
After exiting the 2024 French Open, Nadal attended the Swedish Open and reached the finals against Nuno Borges. Despite losing the match, it motivated the Mallorcan legend’s confidence. While he surprised all by the news of his Laver Cup participation, Nadal also dropped his opinion about the upcoming US Open.
Rafael Nadal puts an end to his 2024 US Open dream
While Nadal surprised people with his decision about the Laver Cup, he also confirmed that he wouldn’t participate in the 2024 US Open. “Writing today to let you guys know that I have decided not to compete at this year’s US Open a place where I have amazing memories,” he tweeted. This Mallorcan legend said, “I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don’t think I would be able to give my 100% this time.”
Nadal’s decision has left her followers with a heavy heart. Stacey Allaster, the US Open’s tournament director, said, “Rafa is a tremendous champion and he will be missed during the 2024 US Open by the fans and all those associated with the tournament.”