Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has indicated that 2024 is likely to mark his final year on the men’s tour. The 36-year-old Spaniard shared this revelation in a video posted on his social media accounts on Thursday as he continues his recovery from hip surgery.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has been absent from competition since his second-round exit at the Australian Open in January. He aims to make a comeback in January 2023 at the Brisbane International. In the video, Nadal acknowledged contemplating retirement multiple times due to prolonged injury challenges. Despite these thoughts, he expressed a desire to conclude his remarkable career on his own terms rather than in a press conference.
The tennis legend credited the support of those around him for sustaining his determination for a comeback during challenging rehabilitation phases. However, he cautioned fans, stating there is a “good chance” that 2024 will be his final season. Nadal emphasized the uncertainty of his injury-prone body’s long-term resilience and mentioned focusing on one tournament at a time.
If Nadal does retire after 2024, he would join Roger Federer, who concluded his career last year, as the second member of the “Big Three” to step away. This would leave Novak Djokovic as the sole survivor of their era of dominance, with Djokovic currently leading the Grand Slam title race with 24, two ahead of Nadal and four ahead of Federer. The combined tally of 63 Grand Slams by the Big Three since 2003 represents an era of unparalleled excellence in tennis.
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