Rafa Nadal: “I can’t say that 2024 will be my last year”

Rafa Nadal will return to tennis and will do so with force in 2024, although he does not have a specific date for his return. The Spanish tennis player confirmed in an interview that the break has served him to reset, both physically and mentally, and he will begin the next season, which will possibly be the last of his professional career, prepared and excited to face a few months in which his great The goal is to look competitive, beyond titles.

Nadal gave a 45-minute interview to Movistar +, where he submitted to questions of a different nature, in which he seemed reflective and encouraged to continue taking steps in the recovery of his iliac psoas injury, which has kept him out the entire season. low, even causing him to undergo surgery on August 2.

With a blank year, Rafa maintains the hope of returning to a high level, probably at the beginning of 2024, and playing the tournaments that motivate him the most as long as he can control the pain and not be injured again. Nadal spoke with the interviewer, Juanma Castaño, about the present, but also the future, and there he opened doors, always with moderation, such as the possibility of collaborating with a tennis player as a coach, a few weeks a year, or even ending up as president of the Real Madrid, if it seemed capable of doing so and could appear according to its statutes.

Rafa Nadal and his future in tennis

«I said that possibly 2024 will be my last year. I stand by it, but I can’t confirm it 100%. I think there is a good chance that yes, because I know how my body is, but how I will be in four months I don’t know. “I am open to the future,” Nadal analyzed, thus answering the most anticipated question ahead of his appearance.

However, Nadal did not make it clear when he will return to ATP competition, although he does want to do so in conditions that allow him to be at a high level. «I would like to play again and be competitive, but my dream is not to win Roland Garros or the Australian Open. I am not deluded, I face difficulties such as age, which is insurmountable. Physical problems also don’t let me train at 100% on a regular basis. That doesn’t take away my enthusiasm, what I want is to feel competitive again. From there I will set some objectives that I don’t know what they are,” analyzed the champion of 22 Grand Slam tournaments.

Nadal’s injury recovery

Nadal also gave data on how he is training, in 45-minute sessions on the court three days a week – plus all the gym work, and he let it be known that the limitations make him get a little bored in these sessions. «At the moment it is boring, I play almost without moving, I play without the intensity that I am used to. I have to be holding back all the time, I know I have to be patient. It has always bored me, I have experienced many recoveries in my life, being bored has never taken away my enthusiasm,” Rafa said in the interview.

There was also time for advice, like the one he gave to Carlos Alcaraz after confirming that due to his age, he does not have many friends left on the ATP circuit, and that he, instead of advice, prefers to set an example. «If I had to say something to Carlos Alcaraz it is to improve, to continue improving. At least having the hope of continuing to improve is what has kept me going my entire career. It’s fun for me to go to train because I wake up with the idea of ​​improving, of being better, then I improve it or not, but I go with that hope,” said Nadal, addressing the 2023 Wimbledon champion.

Nadal, president of Real Madrid?

However, what was probably most surprising about Rafa Nadal’s entire interview was his response, ambiguous, but leaving the door open, to the option of being president of Real Madrid in the future. «I think I would like to, but today nothing more than we have the best possible president, then life takes many turns and you have to know if you are qualified to do each type of thing. I don’t know if I would be capable, but time will tell,” explained Nadal, who also proved to be up to date with what is happening currently in Madrid.

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