In an announcement that took tennis fans around the world by surprise, Rafael Nadalthe legendary Spanish player, confirmed a few days ago his package for Roland Garros. The Grand Slam tournament on clay, which begins today in Paris, will not welcome its Roi. shock wave in the world of tennisleaving fans and pundits alike puzzled over El Toro’s future.
Nadal unavailable for the next few months
It was from his native island of Majorca, in his tennis academy, that Nadal gathered the journalists. The Spaniard explained that he was too short physically:
« I need to stop, because otherwise I don’t even know if I’ll make it to next year ».
Soon to be 37 years old, Rafa was faced with many injuries during his career. Lately, a left hip muscle injury (iliopsoas muscle) contracted during the Australian Open last January. A physical glitch that prevented him from playing for several weeks. Nadal also suffers from syndrome de Müller-Weiss : chronic foot pain, since the age of 18.
Heading for the Davis Cup, therefore, next November to begin a year that will be “ without a doubt » in « last “. With the Paris Games scheduled for the summer of 2024 in sight, Nadal wants, for the moment, ” stop ».
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Rafa’s package at Roland Garros also gives another flavor to the other meetings of the year. This will be the case during the summer period for Wimbledon, emblematic tournament on grass, and the US Open, grand slam on hard court. Fans will be deprived of the Mallorcan’s presence. A news that comes to open the scar of Roger Federer’s recent farewell for tennis fans.
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From his historic victory at Roland Garros in 2005, two days after celebrating his 19th birthday, Nadal had never missed the Parisian event. During his exceptional career, he has accumulated more than 110 wins on clay de la Porte d’Auteuil, knowing only three defeats (in 2009, 2015 and 2021) and only one package in 2016 due to a left wrist injury. His dominance on this surface was unparalleled, establishing Nadal as the true king of clay.
Supporting reactions in the world of tennis
« We will definitely miss you at Roland Garros this year. Take care of yourself to come back stronger on the courts. We hope to see you again next year in Paris ». Roland Garros organizers reacted with emotion on Twitter.
His peers also expressed their support. This is the case of Carlos Alcaraz, young prodigy of Spanish tennison the same social network: “Good luck Rafa! (…) I hope that 2024 will be a great season for you, and that you can retire like the great champion that you are! ».
Daniil Medvedev, world number two in the ATP rankingssalutes in turn, the one he describes as ” fantasy player » : « He is an incredible athlete, one of the best in history. I hope he can come back and play a few more Grand Slams ».
The fans, meanwhile, are already nostalgic for Nadal’s absence and hope to find him for the last time on Parisian clay in 2024. With a dream: to see him bite the Mousquetaires Cup for the fifteenth time.
2023-05-23 01:01:27
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