Tim Henman hailed Rafael Nadal as “an icon” before stating that it was “the right time” for him to walk away from pro tennis because he probably squeezed the last juice from his body and there was nothing else left.
When the Spaniard suffered a serious hip injury and revealed in 2023 May his plans to retire in 2024, there was still hope he might change his mind at some point. When his comeback was launched, the 38-year-old didn’t close the doors on possibly playing beyond 2024 but underlined that it was unlikely.
And after Nadal sustained a hip issue in his very first post-surgery tournament and later also battled an abdominal injury, it was clear that the writing was on the wall and that seeing him continue his career were slim to none.
In the end, he got to compete at the French Open, the Paris Olympics and finish his career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. For his farewell, the former 22-time Grand Slam champion got to play one last singles match – represent his country – and compete in front of a sold-out arena in Malaga.
“Look, I think when you talk about retirement for any player, it’s really not straightforward to plan it. And with the injuries and all the different challenges that Rafa had and with the schedule, I think to be representing your country in Davis Cup in your home country is very special. So I think it was a good send-off. And I hope Rafa felt comfortable with that. He’s just been an absolute icon of our sport. But for the Spanish people to get to see him one last time at home, I think was very, very special,” former six-time Grand Slam semifinalist Henman told Eurosport.
“From the outside looking in, I think it was the right time. He’s given so much to the sport. The sport takes so much out of him physically and mentally. And I just don’t know whether his body could take it any longer. So I think it was a good time to step down and give Rafa the time to reflect on just the incredible achievements that he’s had in this sport.”
Rafael Nadal© Tenis Espana/Instagram – Fair Use
Nadal made a brutally honest admission about the reason he was retiring
In his final season, the Spaniard posted a 12-8 record on the ATP Tour. Apart from making the Bastad final – where he clinched a couple of hard-fought wins before losing to Nuno Borges – the former world No. 1 didn’t have much success. And it looked like he lost a step and that his body wasn’t allowing him to compete as he used.
In Malaga, Nadal himself confessed to reporters that he was “limited” in his abilities and therefore it wasn’t possible for him to practice or play the way he wanted.
“I simply feel that I cannot carry out my activity normally and without limitations on a continuous basis. I no longer have windows that allow me to train or compete at 100%. And that is one [injury], but apart from that I have all the others that have not gone away and that are also limiting me,” he said in Malaga.
When Nadal sustained that hip injury during the 2023 Australian Open, he thought he would be able to play again in March. But it didn’t happen and he ended up having surgery after his hip wasn’t recovering as targeted.
While he managed to return to pro tennis, his injury issues continued. In the end, the 38-year-old told himself that he did everything possible and was at peace with his retirement decision because he knew that his body couldn’t take it anymore.
“At the end, I achieved the most important thing for me, because this day arrived and I am in peace that I gave all that I had. I played and I practised since I was seven. I started at three but at that age, I started to work more and more with passion, with love, and with the determination to be as good as possible,” Nadal explained.
“I am not the kind of guy that I will say: ‘No, I would not change things,’ because for me it looks arrogant. Of course I would change things, but one thing has been so important for me [is that] I’m going to leave this professional tour with the calm and personal satisfaction that I give my best in almost every single moment.”
While Nadal didn’t manage to make deep runs at the French Open or the Paris Olympics, it was his big wish to compete in those two tournaments in his last year and at least he got to do it.
Tennis World USA