Rafael Nadal's retirement date thrown into chaos after disappointing announcement

09/12/2024 07:35 PM

Rafael Nadal was widely expected to end his glorious tennis career at this month’s Laver Cup, but that finale has now been cancelled after the Spaniard pulled out of the tournament in Berlin.

The final chapters of Nadal’s career have been hampered by persistent injuries, sparking increasingly heated expectations that he would end his tennis story at the Laver Cup.

Roger Federer ended his story at the Laver Cup in 2022 and speculation that Nadal was going to follow the same script heightened after the Swiss maestro confirmed he has spoken to his old rival as he wanted to send him a message.

The pair spoke about Nadal's recent on-court struggles as he lost early at the French Open and Paris Olympics.

"I actually just spoke to him this last week. He wanted to ask me something, and we had a chat, and, I felt a little bit sorry for him," the 20-time Grand Slam champion said.

"That his summer didn't go as well as planned because, at the French Open he had a tough draw. Olympics, he had a tough draw as well. He was hoping, I think, to get a medal.

"I just hope he can go out on his terms, but you know, overall he can do whatever he wants. He's been one of the most iconic tennis players we have ever had in our sport and that's what I told him.

“So I just hope he can go out on his terms and the way he wants to, but he's a great guy, great career."

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There was speculation that Nadal had asked Federer to attend his farewell at the Laver Cup in Berlin, with some suggestions the end of his career may have come alongside his old rival in a doubles match.

Federer ended his career by teaming up with Nadal in the 2022 Laver Cup, but any hopes of a repeat have been ended by confirmation that Nadal is not fit enough to play in Berlin.

"I'm really disappointed to share that I won't be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week,” said Nadal in a social media post.

“This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what's best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win.

“I have so many great, emotional memories from playing Laver Cup and I was really looking forward to being with my teammates and with Bjorn in his final year as Captain.

“I wish Team Europe the very best of luck and will be cheering them on from afar."

The news of his Laver Cup withdrawal comes after Team  World captain precited the Spaniard would quit in a match against his team in Berlin.

"It feels like he is going to stop, maybe, at Laver Cup," said Laver Cup Team World captain McEnroe

"Then again, Roger did it at Laver Cup a couple of years ago, so maybe he wants to do it in his own time.

"He still seems like he has an appetite to play. It seems like he is trying to get the body up to a level where he feels like he can play. Maybe see what he can do at the start of next year?

"I don't know and this is a total guess, but Laver Cup could be the end for Rafa.

"He really loves to play, more than almost anyone I've ever seen, but we've watched Andy Murray for the last six years trying to get back to that level and it's hard when your body lets you down.

"It's hard to walk away when you still want to play and you look at Murray and he wanted it so bad. It sucks when your body doesn't cooperate and we will see with Rafa. I'd be a little surprised if he carried on playing."

Nadal will now have to make a plan on where his career will end, with the prospect of playing for Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in front of his home fans in Malaga in November a strong option if they come through their qualifying round next week.

There would be emotional scenes in Malaga if Nadal ended his remarkable tennis journey on home soil, but his latest announcement casts doubt over whether he would be fit enough to play in a highly competitive competition in November.

He is due to play in a lucrative exhibition event in Saudi Arabia next month, but his Laver Cup withdrawal must also cast doubt over his participation in an event dubbed the ‘Saudi Slam’.

It seemed increasingly unlikely that Nadal can get himself in shape to compete for Grand Slam glory in 2025, so the question now remains – where will this legend end his tennis career?

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