Paris (AP) – After the 13th French Open triumph and the 20th Grand Slam victory of his career, Rafael Nadal left the planning of his further tennis season open.
“I don’t know where I’ll play yet. At the moment I can’t say whether I will play in the coming months or not, ”said the 34-year-old Spaniard after the 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 success in the final of Roland Garros against the world number one Novak Djokovic from Serbia.
He has not yet decided whether to continue as normal in the tournament calendar or take a break until next year, said Nadal. According to the new annual plan of the men’s organization ATP, the Indoor Masters in Paris-Bercy is scheduled for the beginning of November, followed by the ATP World Championship for the eight best professionals of the year in London in mid-November.
Nadal is still missing the title at the end of the season. “But it doesn’t make sense to talk about it today because I really don’t know whether I’ll play there or not,” said the Mallorcan. He would have to discuss this with his family and team in the coming days and then decide. He needs some rest now, said Nadal. Because of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, he has not yet committed to a start at the Australian Open at the beginning of 2021. There the players have to be in hotel quarantine 14 days in advance upon arrival. “You have to make the right decisions at all times now,” said Nadal and announced that he would be concerned about not making wrong decisions.
So far, he has only dealt with the French Open and not with how things will go afterwards. His long-time rival Roger Federer, with whom he drew level after Grand Slam titles, paused for the rest of the year after a knee operation. The 39-year-old Swiss was one of the first prominent congratulators. “I have always had the greatest respect for my friend Rafa as a person and as a champion,” wrote Federer on Sunday in the social networks.
It was “a great honor for me to congratulate him on his 20th Grand Slam title,” said Federer: “Well done, Rafa, you deserve it.”
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