(Paris) Rafael Nadal, who fought against physical problems to be able to return to Roland-Garros, recognized on Saturday, on the eve of the start of the 2024 edition, that there was “a great chance” that this be his last participation, while leaving the door ajar.
“There is a good chance that this will be my last [Roland-Garros]. But I wouldn’t say I’m 100% sure it’s the last,” 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.
Give me some time and maybe in a month I’ll say I’m stopping.
Rafael Nadal
Despite a “disaster” in Rome, where he lost sharply in the second round, Nadal said he felt competitive.
“Sorry, but I’m feeling competitive in practice. Maybe not in an official match, but when I enter the court, I have the feeling of being able to beat anyone,” he said.
No longer seeded, the Spaniard will face Alexander Zverev (4e world and winner in Rome). The German had given up against Nadal due to a major injury to his right ankle during the 2022 semi-final. In the process, the Spaniard won his 14e sacred on Parisian land.