One of Rafael Nadal’s former colleagues claims he has already decided when he will retire.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s future looks unclear after he pulled out of the Laver Cup last week. He has not played a match since the Olympics.
Muguruza retired in April after spending more than a year on the sidelines. And she says Nadal also has a deadline for his career.
Nadal has barely played over the last couple of years. He returned from a 12-month layoff in January only to get injured again and has since only competed in clay-court tournaments.
His last match came more than six weeks ago when he crashed out of the Olympics men’s doubles event with Carlos Alcaraz. Since then, the 38-year-old has withdrawn from the US Open and the Laver Cup and his future is uncertain.
While Nadal has constantly shut down retirement chat, claiming he doesn’t know when he’ll stop playing, Muguruza revealed that he told her when he would end his career. “It’s hard to know him. He’s very shy,” the 2017 Wimbledon champion told Tennis.com.
“We talked a little bit at the Laureus Awards in Madrid earlier this year. He said, ‘This is my last year,’ but he didn’t share anything else. I don’t want to ask him personal questions.”
Whether Nadal has committed to 2024 being his final year on tour, Muguruza believes it’s the right time for him to join her in retirement. She added: “He’s so ready. His body, his mind, just everything…
“It’s time to also enjoy his kid! I see him smiling all the time with his baby. I’m like, ‘Why are you on the court still? Go home, take the boat, go in Mallorca.’ I think he gave everything he had.”
It remains to be seen what Nadal does but he is still signed up for the Six Kings Slam, a Saudi Arabia exhibition event taking place next month. Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer is also hoping the former world No. 1 will join the squad for Finals week in November.
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Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Laver Cup on short notice.
The 38-year-old repeatedly committed to the team tournament but withdrew last week. Nadal confirmed he had “zero” physical issues but thought another player would be better placed to help Team Europe win.
A gutted Alcaraz is now hoping he can join forces with Nadal at another event later this year.
The 21-year-old is making his Laver Cup debut this week. But it’s been a bittersweet arrival for Alcaraz, who was looking forward to sharing the court with his countryman after their doubles outing at the Olympics.
“It would have been super special to repeat here in Berlin,” Alcaraz told Marca. “When they gave the team and I saw that Rafa was coming, I was really excited to share the locker room with him once again.
“Here at the Laver Cup we are all much closer together and it would have been a unique experience. I am going to miss him and I hope he returns to the courts soon when he feels well. I hope we meet at some tournament soon.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion could well get his wish, as Spain’s Davis Cup captain recently opened the door for Nadal to make a return during Finals week in November. Alcaraz has already heard the news and is hoping to see the 22-time Grand Slam champion in Malaga for the World Cup of men’s tennis.
Alcaraz continued: “I heard David [Ferrer] say that if Rafa was there, he would go all out with him. I hope I’m also physically fit to be able to go to Malaga. It’s something that I’m particularly excited about and I hope Rafa is there too.
“Rafa is one of the greatest in the history of our sport. For me he is my idol, he is the one I watched the matches with when I was a child, I have tried to learn from him as much as I could during the time we were together. I will miss him in Berlin because it was a unique opportunity to continue learning from him. He has been a unique tennis player.”
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