The year was 2001, when the black-haired fifteen-year-old Rafael Nadal tried his hand at the home tournament in Madrid thanks to a wild card from the organizers. The promising youngster from Mallorca, without a single point in the ranking, fell in the first round against compatriot Guillermo Platel, a player of the eighth hundred.
Since then, the story of one of the greatest giants of world tennis began to be written, who did not find a defeater in 92 tournaments, including twenty-two Grand Slams. His fourteen French Open laurels will most likely remain an absolute record for a very long time.
He will almost certainly lose the battle for the best player in history, and Novak Djokovic, who is still playing in excellent form and especially healthy, will not reach the big four with 24 cuts from tournaments. In the next year, the career of the tennis player, who captivated millions of fans around the world, will definitely come to an end.
Rafael Nadal in an archive photo
“You know, I don’t believe in miracles, I don’t believe that my body will suddenly miraculously recover to the point that I would have the energy and strength to continue, that’s not going to happen. The year 2024 will definitely be my last, I am 100% sure of that,” Nadal is under no illusions.
The Spanish tennis player should thus start his last season at the Australian Open, which was recently confirmed by the head of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, Craig Tiley. A few weeks later, however, Nadal disputed this. “I was always under pressure. Either from myself, when I expected certain performances, or from the fans. And my goal was always to show myself in the best possible light. That’s what I’m trying to do now. But unfortunately my limits are obvious,” Rafa tamed the fans’ enthusiasm.
The thirty-seven-year-old tennis player last played this year in Melbourne, where he lost mainly due to a lumbar muscle injury already in the second round. And that, in addition to the severely tested left foot, continues to trouble him. “The truth is, sometimes I can’t even get along, but most of the time I can. But the main problem is the lumbar muscle,” admits Nadal.
So the final goodbye will be in 2024. “I don’t want to give my fans false hope. I would like to play like I used to again. But I’m not really going to come back in the style to be able to win the Australian Open or Roland Garros. I am fully aware of that,” the legend continues in his confession.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
The statue of Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros area
In addition to the farewell season, the main motivation for the tennis genius remains, in addition to the Grand Slams, the Olympics, which will take place in Paris in his “living room” at Roland Garros. In the area where the majestic statue of Nadal stands, Rafa will try it for the last time. However, with what result and above all in what state of health remains largely unknown…
2023-11-23 17:10:57
#time #legendary #Nadal #clear #Sport.cz
