Rafael Nadal will end his 19-year French Open career with little chance of adding to his 14 titles before leaving behind a record and reputation that will probably never be matched. The legendary Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, won his first title at Roland Garros as a youngster in 2005. He will turn 38 a week from Monday. Nadal, a former world number one who is now ranked 276 in the world, has only played 15 matches since January of last year due to a hip injury and subsequently a muscle rupture, adding to a gloomy history of medical ailments that have forced him to miss 12 Grand Slam tournaments over his career.
The draw for the 2024 French Open, which takes place on Thursday afternoon, will reveal whether or not the event moves up to number 13.
“I’m going to play the tournament thinking that I can give my all, 100 percent,” Nadal said after losing in the second round in Rome last week.
“And if 100% isn’t enough to win a match, I’ll accept it. But I don’t want to walk onto the court knowing I have no chance. If there’s a 0.01% chance, I want to investigate it and give it a shot.”
In addition to 14 titles in Paris, Nadal has 112 wins and only three losses, two of which were against his longtime nemesis Novak Djokovic.
On Monday, over 6,000 fans gathered to watch his first training session on Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, with many singing his name.
“We have to enjoy the time he has left on the court, evaluate it, and be aware that something like that is unlikely to happen again,” remarked coach Carlos Moya at the recent Madrid Open.
“I’m seldom on court when he enters or leaves, but I am this year because I enjoy watching the love he receives from the crowd when he comes on the floor.
Nadal is one of the great stars of this sport and he’s about to retire. It will really amazing to see how the fans bid him goodbye.
