Rafael Nadal’s uncle reveals tennis legend’s retirement dilemma before statement

Rafael Nadal announced last week that he will be retiring from tennis at the end of the 2024 season, with his uncle Toni Nadal saying that he wanted to play on for another year

Rafael Nadal's uncle has spoken out about the Spaniard's retirement dilemma after he confirmed his decision to quit tennis after a 23-year career at the top level.

The 38-year-old's journey since starting out in 2001 has been nothing short of legendary, claiming an astonishing 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 French Open crowns and multiple victories at the other major tournaments. Despite still being one of the giants in tennis, Nadal recently revealed through a social media announcement that he would be retiring.

He shared through video: "Hello everyone, I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that is has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations.

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"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined."

In contrast to Nadal's firm retirement plans, his uncle, Toni Nadal, told Marca that Rafa harboured the desire for another competitive season on clay, indicating he had hopes for performing well into 2025. Uncle Toni shared: "Rafa would have liked another good season on clay and that means winning or at least performing at a good level.

"He has not retired as he would have liked. I always told him not to complain because life has treated us better than we expected. Looking back now, you can say why he put it off, but Rafa had the hope of still giving his best version and when he was not convinced, he retired," reports the Mirror.

"It's just that his body doesn't respond. When he forces his body, it suffers from one part or another. The same thing happened to [Roger] Federer, he tried for two years and left." A titan of tennis, Nadal is set to retire without the farewell tour he might have envisioned.

Despite a glittering array of titles, Nadal's career has been marred by persistent injuries, which have seen him pull out from many tournaments over time. The sporting legend hasn't clutched a grand slam trophy since his triumphant back-to-back wins at the Australian and French Opens in 2022.

This year's circuit has seen Nadal conspicuously absent from majors such as the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, with his shock first-round exit at the French Open at the hands of Alexander Zverev adding to the disappointment. A daunting hip surgery curtailed his participation in 2023, while a muscular injury this January further restricted his season.

Nadal will play his final professional game at the Davis Cup in November, where he'll team up with the rising star, Carlos Alcaraz, to represent Spain before he bids adieu to his illustrious career on the courts.