2023-09-19 11:53:05
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal, 37, reaffirmed Monday that 2024 would “maybe” be the year he retires, after eight months of absence and two operations for his hip injury.
Published on: 09/19/2023 – 11:53
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« I said it was possible that 2024 could be my last year, I stand by it, but I can’t confirm it 100% because I don’t know “, Rafael Nadal said in an interview with the Movistar+ channel, saying he was “looking forward to playing again and being competitive again.”
« But the idea is not to come back to win Roland Garros or the Australian Open. Don’t let people be surprised, all this is far away, I am aware of the difficulties I encounter “, continued the Spaniard, 22 Grand Slam titles under his belt, referring to his “age” and his ” physical problems ».
On May 18, Nadal withdrew from Roland Garros, a tournament he won fourteen times, due to a left hip injury contracted at the Australian Open in January. On this occasion, he had already announced that “next year” would be “ probably the last ” of her career.
No frustrations…
On Monday, he also revealed that he had undergone surgery on his psoas and hip a few months ago. “ Would I like to be the tennis player with the most Grand Slams? Without a doubt. (…) But that doesn’t frustrate me “, he also affirmed, returning to the battle with Novak Djokovic, to become the player with the greatest number of Grand Slams won – “Djoko” has 24 – and affirming that he does not ” an obsession “.
« I think Novak experiences this in a more intense way than I do “, he continued, estimating that the “frustration” of not achieving it would have been greater for the Serb.
Finally mentioning Carlos Alcaraz, presented by many as his heir, Nadal judged that he had “ the potential for everything ». More ” If I had to tell him anything it would be to keep improving. “, he concluded.
(With AFP)
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