Rafael Nadal He has hinted at his withdrawal for the first time. The Balearic will turn 36 next Friday and his future is unknown due to the permanent dragging pain in the left ankle for Müller-Weiss syndrome.
This Sunday, the Balearic beat the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassimea pupil of his uncle Toni, in five sets after more than four hours of play and, in the press conference after the match, hinted at a possible withdrawal this season, ensuring that the quarterfinal duel against Novak Djokovic may be his “last match” at Roland Garros.
“I know my situation and I accept it. What I’m going to do is fight, I can’t complain because I’m in the quarterfinals. Two and a half weeks ago, even though I had hopes, I didn’t know if I was going to be here and I’m enjoying a few quarters. Each game can be my last at Roland Garros”, Nadal explained at a press conference.
“The match with Djokovic could be my last match here and I know Roland Garros by day and I would prefer to play by day. I’ve been through a complicated process with my foot and I don’t know what will happen to my career. What I try to do is enjoy and continue living the dream of playing tennis and reaching the last rounds of Roland Garros”, he added.
In 2021, Nadal fell in the semifinals of his fetish tournament against the Serb and, due to the pain he suffers in his ankle, he does not look like a favorite or even close: “On this occasion, together with the one in 2015, they are both times in the that he is more clearly the favorite. The other times I was a little more or 50-50”.
“I hope to be well enough to train tomorrow. I haven’t played against Djokovic for a year and it’s a great challenge. He has won the last nine matches, he is the champion of Rome and he will be confident, “concluded the winner of 21 Grand Slam tournaments.
