2024 was a relatively difficult season for Rafael Nadal. Again at first of the 12 months after a 12 months of absence because of the critical harm suffered on the Australian Open 2023, the Spanish champion was as soon as once more stopped by a relatively critical bodily downside once more in Australia.
Again on clay-courts, Rafa had some good moments, but in addition many lows, because of a bodily preparation severely conditioned by the bodily issues which have stricken him within the final 18 months. His final match in singles was the 2nd spherical of Paris Olympics towards Novak Djokovic, in what was maybe the final official problem between the 2 rivals.
Nadal has had a relatively uncommon season, primarily specializing in two main objectives: Roland Garros and the 2024 Paris Olympics. These main occasions have decided the Spanish participant’s selections when it comes to programming, who has additionally needed to cope with the burden of tiredness because of his inevitably advancing age.
Regardless of all the trouble he has put in on the courts this 12 months, Nadal won’t be able to keep away from a really destructive file, which is not going to nonetheless stain his superb profession: Nadal will finish the season with out even profitable a match in one of many 4 Slam tournaments. An nearly unthinkable knowledge to affiliate with an excellent champion just like the Spaniard, which has not even occurred since 2002. Contemplating that at that age he was simply making his debut on the Tour, this was the primary 12 months ever that Nadal has not achieved a hit in a match in a Main competitors.
On the Australian Open, the 38-year-old suffered a muscle pressure after the ATP in Brisbane and was in the end pressured to withdraw. At Roland Garros, nonetheless, he confirmed up ready and really decided: sadly, the draw instantly put him in entrance of the German Alexander Zverev, seeded quantity 4 and among the many favorites on the eve, and he suffered an early defeat.
Nadal then confirmed his absence from Wimbledon, giving precedence to preparation for the Olympics. Whereas the announcement was made in the previous few days that he is not going to take part within the US Open both. Nadal’s brief future as knowledgeable tennis participant isn’t but clear and outlined. On the finish of Paris, the Spaniard declared that he’ll bask in a interval of reflection to investigate all of the final moments and his subsequent ambitions. The one certainty – at present – is his presence on the Laver Cup 2024, the occasion during which his Swiss good friend Roger Federer determined to say goodbye to tennis perpetually.
