Rafael Nadal withdraws from Roland Garros and plans retirement in 2024
Nadal finally acknowledged Thursday it wasnβt going to happen in time for Roland Garros, where play begins in 10 days and, while heβs not exactly sure when he will be fully recovered from a lingering hip injury, Nadal said he expects to return to action at some point and probably wrap up his career in 2024.
"You canΒ΄t keep demanding more and more from your body, because there comes a moment when your body raises a white flag, Even though your head wants to keep going, your body says this is as far it goes. You never know how things will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year.
Tournaments stay forever; players play and leave. So Roland Garros will always be Roland Garros, with or without me, without a doubt. The tournament is going to keep being the best event in the world of clay, and there will be a new Roland Garros champion and it is not going to be me,β -- Rafael Nadal