Nadal knows the time has come to check out

Rafael Nadal gave the clearest indication that he knows his career is done, with the veteran Spaniard preparing for one last roll of the dice at this week’s Davis Cup Finals.

The 38-year-old who has played an extremely limited schedule this injury-filled season admitted on Monday in Malaga in that he’s all but done.

“It doesn’t make sense for me to continue playing when I’m fully aware that my body doesn’t let me fight for the competitive goals that motivate me.”

“I’m not burned out on tennis. If I could, I would keep playing, but it’s impossible for me to train with the continuity necessary to compete at a level that compensates for the efforts of everyday life.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion who last competed at the Paris Olympics, added: 

“I said a little over a year ago that I didn’t deserve to say goodbye at a press conference and that I wanted to give myself a chance to come back. I have done so and things have not gone as I expected.

“The truth is that since I had the injury in Australia in 2023, I have not played freely again. I had surgery, they had to remove part of my iliac psoas and, from that moment on, it was impossible to play without limitations, only at specific times.”

Nadal will leave it until the last possible moment to decide if his battered body is fit enough to take on a singles role at the eight-team event.

Main photo:- Injured Rafa Nadal Australian Open 2023 loses second round match – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd