Rafael Nadal withdraws from French Open, teases retirement subsequent 12 months
- Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the 2023 French Open, citing harm.
- Nadal is the King of Clay, and has gained Roland-Garros 14 instances in 18 makes an attempt, together with in 2022.
- Nadal additionally teased that the 2024 season would seemingly be his final as knowledgeable.
The King of Clay will not be defending his crown this 12 months at Roland-Garros.
Rafael Nadal introduced on Thursday that he wouldn’t be capable of compete at this 12 months’s French Open resulting from a hip harm that has saved him on the sidelines since January.
Nadal is the reigning champion at Roland-Garros, and has gained the event 14 instances in 18 makes an attempt. He is the best clay courtroom participant within the historical past of the game. He holds a profession report of 112-3 on the event.
Not solely did Nadal take away himself from this 12 months’s French Open discipline, he additionally hinted that subsequent 12 months was more likely to be his final as a taking part in skilled.
“You’ll be able to’t preserve demanding increasingly out of your physique, as a result of there comes a second when your physique raises a white flag,” Nadal said during a press conference at his tennis academy in Spain, based on ESPN. “Despite the fact that your head desires to maintain going, your physique says that is as far it goes.”
“You by no means know the way issues will prove,” mentioned Nadal, “however my intention is that subsequent 12 months shall be my final 12 months.”
The event despatched out a message of help to Nadal, who will flip 37 in June, after his determination was introduced.
—Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 18, 2023
Whereas the tip of a run as thrilling as his shall be a monumental second for the game, Nadal could have an enormous likelihood to finish his profession on a excessive observe.
Ought to he be wholesome sufficient to compete in high kind subsequent 12 months, Nadal might contend not just for a fifteenth title at Roland-Garros, but additionally for a second gold medal within the Summer time Olympics.
