Rafael Nadal withdraws from French Open, says 2024 will likely be final season on ATP Tour

Rafael Nadal withdrew from one among his most profitable tournaments, the French Open, and introduced Thursday that he has not but recovered from a lingering hip harm he sustained earlier this 12 months. 

The 36-year-old tennis pro additionally introduced that the 2024 season would probably be his last on the ATP Tour. 

Rafael Nadal celebrates victory of their spherical one singles match in opposition to Jack Draper throughout day one of many 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 16, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Picture by Andy Cheung/Getty Pictures)

The announcement was made throughout a press convention at his tennis academy in Spain on Thursday. 

Nadal didn’t supply a timetable for his return however mentioned he may miss anyplace between a month or 4 months, suggesting that he could not return in time for Wimbledon in July.

“I’m not going to have the ability to play at Roland Garros. I used to be working as a lot as potential each single day for the final 4 months – [they] have been very troublesome months as a result of we weren’t capable of finding the answer to the issue that I had in Australia.”

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Nadal has gained the French Open a file 14 instances and holds a profession file of 112-3 throughout 18 appearances on the French Open. He turned the oldest champion in match historical past when he gained final 12 months at 36. 

Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy after successful the ultimate match in opposition to Casper Ruud in three units, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, on the French Open tennis match in Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Picture/Christophe Ena)

“I must cease, I must cease for some time,” Nadal continued. “I don’t know after I’m going to have the ability to come again to the apply courtroom. However I’m going to cease for some time, perhaps two months, perhaps one month and a half, perhaps three months, perhaps 4 months – I don’t know.” 

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Nadal mentioned the objective of this break is to permit his physique to heal in time for subsequent season, which he mentioned is “in all probability going to be my final 12 months on the skilled tour.” 

Rafael Nadal acknowledges the spectators after the boys’s singles 2nd spherical match in opposition to Mackenzie McDonald at Australian Open tennis match in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2023. (Bai Xuefei/Xinhua through Getty Pictures)

Nadal final performed within the second spherical of the Australian Open on Jan. 18 when he misplaced to Mackie McDonald. He suffered a hip harm that sidelined the previous World No. 1 for a number of months, prompting him to overlook the beginning of the clay courtroom season. 

The Related Press contributed to this report.