ITF Chief David Haggerty ready to do ‘ANYTHING’ to make Rafael Nadal play the 2024 Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal is expected to make his return to the court at the 2024 Australian Open.

ITF Chief David Haggerty ready to do ‘ANYTHING’ to make Rafael Nadal play the 2024 Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal (L); David Haggerty (R) (Sources: Olympics, Sports Pro Media)

International Tennis Federation chief David Haggerty has stated that the body will do everything it can to make sure that Rafael Nadal features in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The American said that a player of Nadal’s caliber must play in the Olympics. He is a multiple-time medalist in the quadrennial mega event and is on the verge of retirement. Thus, he can have his ‘storybook ending’ in the 2024 Olympics.

We know what a champion he is and a medalist a number of times so it certainly could be a storybook ending, so to speak, for him. It would be great. Whether he does or not, will be up to him.
David Haggerty via Reuters

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Haggerty further continued,

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But we'll do everything we can to encourage him to play, because I think it would be great. Knowing that it's in Paris, at Roland Garros, where he's had such tremendous success, would be a great venue for him to be able to compete at. 

Nadal had earlier said that the 2024 season would be his last and he could potentially retire after that. However, it is now being said that the Spaniard is reconsidering his decision. He missed the entirety of the 2023 season after injuring his hip flexor during the Australian Open and is set to make a much-awaited comeback exactly a year later at the upcoming 2024 Australian Open. 

Rafael Nadal’s sensational record in Paris 

One of the major reasons why everyone is wishing for Rafael Nadal to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics is that he has a phenomenal record at the French Open and he can thus kill it in the Olympics. If it so happens, the rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Nadal will be brilliant to watch, as the Serb has already revealed that he wishes to win a gold in the Olympics, the only tournament that alludes to him. 

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Source: Sky Sports)

Rafael Nadal has a record of 112-3 at the French Open and has won the tournament 14 times. He has lost only three times in the French Open and has a win record of 97.4%. Compared to that, Djokovic has an 84% record in the 2023 French Open, which is his lowest in any Grand Slam for him. 

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