Rafael Nadal admits lack of being ‘competitive’ enough for ending his career in 2024
Rafael Nadal reveals the real reason why he decided to retire from professional tennis despite earning a good record this season.
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Rafael Nadal (Image via X)
Rafael Nadal made sure not to reveal which tournament he would play his final career match until October 2024. In several events this season, the Spaniard suffered crushing defeats despite always taking positives from each loss. He has finally opened up on the reason he decided to hang his racket.
Nadal struggled to impress this season, with injury always standing as a barrier to his consistency on the court. He had his best shot playing on clay court, but didn’t perform upto expectations. He reached only the Nordea Open final and exited in the first round of the French Open. At the Italian Open, he won only one match before losing to Hubert Hurkacz in the second round.
After he featured at his final Olympics in Paris, Nadal withdrew from the US Open and Laver Cup citing physical reasons. However, on October 10, he announced that he was going to retire at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga which came as a big surprise to the tennis world. Several athletes and tennis stars from all around the world paid tribute to the legendary Spaniard.
During his press conference ahead of the Davis Cup, Nadal was asked why he decided to retire. He said he was less competitive at every event and didn’t have the ‘ego’ for a farewell tour.
I mean, with the surgery last year, and I don’t gonna add the rest of the things that I had, but a few ones, make me feel that I cannot be enough competitive, and I am not able to enjoy my daily basis the way that I need to be competitive at the highest level, no? So at the end of the day, all relate to the question of myself is about, OK, I can hold for one more year, but why? To say goodbye in every single tournament, I don’t have that ego to need that.
Rafael Nadal said via Tennis Majors
Nadal played only 19 official singles for this season with a 12-7 win-loss record. He has last competed at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia and took fourth place after falling to win a single match.
Rafael Nadal excited to end his professional career in his home country
Rafael Nadal has been regarded as one of the greatest athletes Spain has ever produced. The 38-year-old will be bidding tennis farewell in front of his home crowd and supporters at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. He is expected to represent Spain when they face the Netherlands on November 19.
Nadal has been very successful playing at the Davis Cup, having lost just one match in 30 singles while holding an 8-4 record in doubles. During the aforementioned interview, he revealed that he was happy and fortunate to play his final career match in Spain.
And to play my last event in Spain, it’s something that I am very happy with. I will never have the chance to thank enough everybody here in Spain, the support that I receive and the love that I felt always. I have been very fortunate to feel myself the way that I feel during all those years.
Rafael Nadal said via TSN
Due to Nadal’s physical condition, Carlos Alcaraz and Antwerp champion Roberto Bautista Agut are expected to lead the Spanish team. However, Nadal, who is a superb doubles player, is likely to have a strong partnership with Marcel Granollers.
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Victor Okechukwu
(688 Articles Published)