After winning the Roland-Garros tournament 14 times, Rafael Nadal, soon to be 38 years old, estimated on Saturday that there was a “great chance” that this would be his last participation.
Published on: 05/25/2024 – 2:03 p.m. Modified on: 05/25/2024 – 2:42 p.m.
2 mn
Rafael Nadal lucid before the start of Roland-Garros. The tennis legend and former world number one who fought against physical problems to be able to return to his best level, recognized on Saturday May 25, on the eve of the start of the 2024 edition, that there were ” great chance” that this will be his last participation, while leaving the door ajar.
“There’s a good chance this will be my last [Roland-Garros]. But I wouldn’t say I’m 100% sure it’s the last one,” said the Spaniard, soon to be 38 and who has won the tournament 14 times, a record.
“I went through a long recovery process. Now I’m better than a month ago. So in a way I don’t want to close the door 100%,” he added .
“I love tennis, I travel with my family and we are all happy,” assured the Mallorcan, emphasizing that he had not yet regained the feeling of playing without any problem.
“I feel competitive”
“Give me a little time and maybe in a month I’ll say I’m stopping,” he commented again.
Despite a “disaster” in Rome, where he lost sharply in the second round, Nadal said he felt competitive.
“Sorry, but I feel competitive in training. Maybe not in an official match, but when I enter the court, I feel like I can beat anyone,” he said .
No longer seeded, the Spaniard will face Alexander Zverev (4th in the world and winner in Rome) in the first round. The German gave up against Nadal due to a major injury to his right ankle during the 2022 semi-final. In the process, the Spaniard won his 14th victory on Parisian soil.
With AFP
