Rafael Nadal has not played since the Paris Olympics, the main goal of the season since the French Open. The former world No. 1 – the 14-time Roland Garros champion – immediately faced Alexander Zverev on court Philippe Chatrier and lost despite a good performance.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion defeated Hungarian veteran Marton Fucsovic in the first round of the Olympic tournament before suffering a clear loss to arch-rival Novak Djokovic. The Spanish legend faced his young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz twice, but the two champions were eliminated in the quarter-finals by American specialists Ram and Krajicek, abandoning their dreams of winning a medal together.
Despite the efforts made in recent months and improvements from a physical point of view, Rafa’s level still exceeds expectations. Nadal missed the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open, and a few days ago it was announced that he would not participate in the 2024 Laver Cup (scheduled for this weekend in Berlin).
Update Rafa’s future
Rafa’s season is set to resume next month at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, but there is no certainty about the schedule at this time. Some insiders say the 22-time Grand Slam champion could help Spain to the Davis Cup final in Malaga in November. Spain have returned after last year’s disappointment thanks to the crucial contributions of Carlos Alcaraz and Roberto Bautista Agut.
In Group B, Spain beat the Czech Republic, France and Australia with 7 out of 9 games to clinch three Davis Cup finals in Malaga. The last, a crucial double in the challenge against the Australians, was crucial to winning the round. Pedro Martinez and Marcel Granollers defeated Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Captain David Ferrer said he was proud of his children – Carlos Alcaraz also had one – and hoped to see Rafael Nadal on court in the quarter-finals of next November’s tournament.
«Amazing feeling, we played well all the matches, even though it wasn’t easy, they believed in themselves, I couldn’t be more happy for them. These are great moments. I can congratulate all my players. I’m happy for their confidence in their tennis, this week in Valencia. It is a beautiful memory that we will carry with us forever, without this quality it would not have been possible to achieve this result,» Ferrer said in a press release.
«Nadal? I spoke to him, but we still don’t know anything, there is a chance he could be with us in Malaga in November, his goal was the Olympics this year, and then he stopped. He had to rest and spend time with his family, so it was appropriate not to call him now. The team playing in Malaga There is a lot of time to distinguish, I have a lot of good players to choose from.
Navratilova opens against Nadal
The feeling is that Rafa is choosing the right time to announce his decision. The former world number 1 rarely accepts to continue playing at this level, he cannot compete for major titles. In a recent interview with Sky Sports Tennis, WTA legend Martina Navratilova reflected on Nadal’s future: “It depends on how much interest there is. If you are fighting with your body – you want to play but it won’t let you – then I just give it to you. He has an incredible career. A longer career than we all thought because of the physicality of his style. That leg had been bothering him for years. And, man, if I lived in Mallorca and the lifestyle, the yacht, I think I’d shut it down.
In the year The Spanish player has shocked his fans and the world many times in his long career, as he did by winning two consecutive Grand Slam titles in 2022. It seems unlikely that he will succeed at this point.
