Will we see Rafael Nadal again at a Grand Slam tournament? The Spaniard, whose retirement question is becoming more and more present, announced this Wednesday evening on his social networks that he had made the decision not to participate in the 2024 edition of the US Open (August 26 – September 8).
The former world number 1 explained that he feared he would not be able to be 100% physically. Rafael Nadal has just played the Olympic tournament on the clay of Roland-Garros, and had to settle for an elimination in the first round in singles against Novak Djokovic (6-1, 6-4), and a quarter-final in doubles with Carlos Alcaraz (defeated 6-2, 6-4 against the Americans Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek).
Still uncomfortable in the thigh
Hampered by a thigh problem, he had been uncertain until the eve of the tournament and did not play at full fitness. After his elimination in singles, he had declared that he would take “The decisions that need to be made after the Olympics” “by relying above all on one’s desires and feelings“.
After his elimination in the first round of Roland-Garros in June by the German Alexander Zverev, he had however mentioned a possible last appearance in 2025 in his favorite tournament (14 victories).Obviously if I feel that I am no longer competitive and that I do not have the capacity to become so again, I will make the decision to stop.“, he assured then.
“I will miss these special and electric night sessions.” wrote the four-time winner of the Flushing Meadows tournament. He also announced that his next tournament should be the Laver Cup in Berlin at the end of September, an event organized by Roger Federer. Precisely the tournament where the Swiss played his last match in 2022.
