Rafael Nadal has left Roland Garros and wonders about the future of his career: “Everything has a beginning and an end”

This morning (at 4pm in Spain) Rafael Nadal called a press conference where he announced that he will not participate in Roland Garros: “It’s a decision that my body makes, it’s not my decision“, complained the Mallorcan. Thus, the Paris Open is left without its biggest winner and the favorite of the public: Rafa has 14 editions left of the 17 finals he has played.

“We have summoned you here today for several reasons: the first is that the injury I sustained in Australia has not progressed as we would have liked. We have worked tirelessly at all times, with our eyes fixed on the following objectives, even if some have lost their way. Most importantly, that was Roland Garros, today it becomes impossibleE. With which, at this moment, I won’t be able to be at Roland Garros after so many years without missing the appointment with everything that is that tournament for me”, began Rafa.

NowThe greatest doubt is whether this could be the culmination of Nadal’s career: “I have no intention of playing in the coming months,” he assured. “The reality is that a few years have passed, the last few years, however the results when i played were first class, my daily life was of a very low standard. The reality is that in front of the outside there are always victories, good moments, that’s sport…”

Nadal, said that his daily life has become very hard due to the pain caused by the intensity with which he faces his professional daily life: “On a personal level, from the daily work, which is what gives happiness, these “The last years after the pandemic were really difficult years. For me it was difficult to have continuity from all points of view, above all because of the physical condition that chained me injury after injury “, continued the player with absolute lucidity, despite the difficult moment he is experiencing.

Rafa will miss Roland Garros for the first time since 2005. Beyond the pain caused by not participating in the tournament in which he showed his best performances, his absence in Paris will mean a leap of faith in Rafa’s ranking since, after the open French, for the first time time since 2003 he will be outside the ATP top 100.

Another situation that brings Rafa’s loss into play is the race to be the greatest Grand Slam winner running with Novak Djokovic. The 14th and number one in the standings today (the Serbian will lose that status from Monday, in the hands of Carlos Alcaraz) leads that ranking with 22 Majors.

Now Rafa’s goal is to leave the circuit indefinitely to “fine-tune the car” and be able to choose what will be the last tournaments of his career: “I will try to regenerate my body, I will not enter a return date. I would like to finish 2023 playing Davis Cup. I will try to face next year with the guarantees of being able to do what I intuit and I think it will be my last year.. That will be my goal, try to stop to face the last year of my career.”

Nadal took the approaching end of his career naturally and did not dramatize the situation: “The first thing you do is not talk, you listen to yourself. You understand from a process of acceptance and honesty with yourself. Decisions are not dramatic Everything has a beginning and an end, sadly I’m just one of all athletes, artists, musicians, actors.”

And, before concluding, he clarified that the end is closer than ever: “One phase will end next year in which I think we have been very happy and a different but no less happy phase will begin. You have to accept things naturally. I have plans for the next few months, to enjoy having no schedules, after which next year’s last effort will pay off. It will be a special year. What can happen will tell my tennis and my body, I’m confident it will be worth it.”