Legend Son: Rafael Nadal makes retirement decision after beating Bjorn Borg’s son in Bastad

Rafael Nadal has decided to delay his retirement from professional men’s tennis in order to play the 2024 US Open, according to reports.

The 38-year-old, who defeated Bjorn Borg’s son 6-3 6-4 in Bastad on Tuesday in his first singles match in over seven weeks, is approaching the end of his career and many expected him to hang up his racket after the Olympic Games in Paris.

Nadal, who skipped Wimbledon 2024, has spoken openly about calling time on his career on several occasions and it was widely thought that this was his last year playing the French Open.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion made a U-turn after losing in the first round, though, forcing Roland-Garros organisers to cancel a planned farewell ceremony.

Novak Djokovic has predicted that Nadal could be tempted into playing the 2025 French Open and it seems he could be right with the Spaniard, who has massively struggled with injury in recent years, now looking set to continue on the ATP Tour.

That comes after Nadal surprisingly appeared on the US Open entry list for this year, shocking fans who were expecting the Olympics to be his last-ever event, with Nadal set to play doubles at the Games with his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.

While ESPN have reported that Nadal being on the entry list for the Grand Slam in New York does not necessarily mean he will definitely feature at Flushing Meadows, Forbes claim that the veteran is very much set to play the US Open

Nadal’s decision comes after beating Leo Borg in straight-sets on clay in Sweden, winning his first match since a painful early French Open exit to Alexander Zverev.

‘It’s a huge honor to play against the son of one of the biggest legends in the history of our sport,’ Nadal said after the victory, paying tribute to Borg’s father, a true tennis icon who landed 11 major titles between 1974 and 1980.

Nadal’s win over Borg was his first in Bastad since 2005. The last time he played there, he won the title as a 19-year-old.

But there is a new Spanish tennis superstar in town – Alcaraz – who just clinched an incredible Channel Slam after defeating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final for the second year in a row.

Nadal has lauded Alcaraz and said: ‘My impression is that we are talking about a player who is going to be one of the best in history. That is my feeling.

‘He is a player with great potential. Life can change quickly, that’s the truth. You never know what can happen in the future. But today if we have to predict what is happening in his career, we predict incredible things.

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz attend The Netflix Slam media availability event at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on March 02, 2024
Rafael Nadal will play Olympic doubles with Carlos Alcaraz (Picture: Getty)
‘His level of tennis is super high. If he is able to stay away from injuries, of course Jannik Sinner is there. But today I see him with Sinner above the rest without any doubt.

‘I don’t see many players who can stop him on the Tour and I think the best thing he has today is that in every tournament he plays, no matter the surface, he is going to be the favourite.’