Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal (EFE/ Juanjo Martín)
The Olympic Games have been a turning point for Rafa Nadal. He came to the competition ready to give his all, ready to fight for medals, but it was not to be, either in singles or doubles alongside Carlitos Alcaraz. The Olympic event ended for Rafa Nadal earlier than anyone would have liked. After that, the player from Manacor decided to take stock of the situation and evaluate the tournaments in which he should compete and those that it is better to let pass. Now, he has revealed his nearest calendar.
Rafa Nadal’s goal for this season was to arrive at the Paris Olympics in the best physical condition possible. He knew that it would be the last time he could be fighting for a medal for Spain and he did not want to waste the opportunity. After completing an almost blank circuit in 2023 and the possibility of retiring began to sound, he tried to recover so that he could say goodbye on the courts. Since then, despite having to withdraw from several tournaments, he has been able to compete in some of them. Of course, he has had to be very selective with the championships he entered and, after the Paris event, he will be even more so.
Nadal’s first major announcement was his decision not to compete in the upcoming US Open, despite having entered using his protected ranking, due to a long-term injury. “I have decided not to compete in this year’s US Open, a venue of which I have wonderful memories. I will miss those special, electric evening sessions in Ashe (Center), New York, but I don’t think I can give 100% this time. Thank you to all my fans in the United States in particular. I will miss you and see you another time,” the tennis player detailed through his social networks.
Another crucial aspect that Nadal has mentioned is his participation in the upcoming Laver Cup in Berlin, which will take place from September 20 to 22. This decision not only rules out his participation in the US Open, but also in the group stage of the Davis Cup, which will be played from September 10 to 15. He was not considered in the first call-up, but captain David Ferrer had left the possibility open in case he wanted to try, an option that ultimately did not materialize.
As for his future steps beyond the Laver Cup, Nadal has not set specific dates in his diary, generating speculation about the direction his professional tennis career could take. The Mallorcan athlete has faced a series of physical challenges and difficult decisions that have marked his career in recent times. That the end of his career is getting closer is a fact, although the Spanish tennis player refuses to set a date for the day when he will hang up his racket and never step onto a court again, much less lift a title.
The three records that Carlos Alcaraz has managed to achieve before Rafa Nadal.
2024-08-08 12:05:00
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