(AFP) – Rafael Nadal on Thursday withdrew from the French Open because his hip injury has not healed and said he expects 2024 to be his final year in professional tennis.
“It’s not a decision I’m taking, it’s a decision my body is taking,” said the 36-year-old Spanish superstar, who has played at the claycourt major every year since 2005 and won it 14 times.
(COMBO/FILES) This combination of file photographs created on June 5, 2022 shows Spanish Rafael Nadal holding the trophy, the Mousquetaires Cup (The Musketeers) after his 14 victories at the tennis French Open at Roland Garros on June 5, 2005; on June 11, 2006; on June 10, 2007; on June 8, 2008; on June 6, 2010; on June 5, 2011; on June 11, 2012; on June 9, 2013; on June 8, 2014; on June 11, 2017; on June 10, 2018; on June 9, 2019; on October 11, 2020 and on June 5, 2022 (C). Rafael Nadal announced he will not compete in the French Open on May 18, 2023, amid a long-term injury struggle. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has battled to recover from a hip injury he sustained in January at the Australian Open, not playing since then. (Photo by AFP)
Nadal said he was taking a few months off before starting to play again.
“It’s probably going to be my last year on the professional tour, I can’t say this 100 percent because you never know what’s going to happen,” he told a news conference.
