- The retired Swiss tennis star is in Paris on other engagements as a brand ambassador for UNIQLO
- Rafael Nadal has earlier said that the French Open would be his last tournament
- He hasn’t conclusively communicated if this remains so
Former tennis maestro Roger Federer on Rafael Nadal retirement thoughts is the most selfless act of friendship in the sport.
Nadal is currently playing at Roland Garros where Federer is in attendance to cheer him up. However, it could be the last French Open Nadal is playing.
The retired Swiss tennis star is in Paris on other engagements as a brand ambassador for UNIQLO, a fashionwear company he promotes.
Roger Federer on Rafael Nadal Retirement
Federer who won 20 Grand Slams in his tennis career said that he is optimistic Nadal will play longer. The Swiss added that it would be a pleasant surprise for Nadal to entertain his fans beyond this year’s French Open.
However, he explained that it is Nadal’s physical form that holds the last word on how long he will play.
“If Rafa says goodbye to tennis, he will do it on the court. I hope he plays much longer than we think at the moment, but his body is what he will have to decide,” he told Telematin in an interview.
Roger Federer with Rafael Nadal. Photo/Bleacherreport
When is Rafael Nadal Retiring?
It is widely speculated that Nadal will retire at the end of the 2024 season but he has given mixed signals about it.
Just before the start of the season, he said that he would retire after the 2024 French Open but changed his mind. He said that he would play tennis longer if his body maintained a high level of competition.
He acknowledged that 2024 might be the end of his tennis career, but he was not sure about it either as his body was giving him double signals.
“I said that possibly 2024 will be my last year. I stand by that, but I can’t confirm it 100 per cent. I think there’s a good chance that it will be, because I know how my body is but how I’ll be in four months, I don’t know,” he told Spanish publication AS Diario.
Before the 2024 Australian Open, the Spaniard participated in a warm-up match in Brisbane. He sustained a microtear in his muscle in one of his matches.
Nadal took the tough choice to withdraw from the Australian Open a day before the competition officially started and dismissed it as a minor tear but it wasn’t.
While he anticipated to fully recover within weeks, he took months to heal meaning he missed out on crucial ATP Masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami Open.
He returned at the Barcelona Open in April but lost in the early stages of the tournament to Alex de Minaur 7-6, 5-1. The 22-time Grand Slam champion headed out to Rome for the Italian Open but lost early to Hubert Hurkacz 6-6, 3-1.
He will play his first-round match at Roland Garros against Italian Open 2024 champion Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
When Did Roger Federer Retire?
Roger Federer Nike. Photo/We Love Tennis
Federer retired in 2022 after the Laver Cup having won 20 major titles throughout his tennis career.
“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour,” he said in a statement.
He explained his choice to retire citing injuries he sustained in 2019 which required several surgeries. Federer said that pursuing an active career on the ATP Tour in his 40s would strain his health so much and retiring was the best decision.
“I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career,” he added.
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