Rafael Nadal: ‘Don’t Assume’ 2024 French Open Will Be My Last Despite Injury Issues

Adam WellsMay 25, 2024

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Even though Rafael Nadal has talked about 2024 being his final season on the ATP Tour, he isn’t ruling out continuing to play in the French Open.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Nadal was asked if this year could be his final appearance at Roland Garros.

“Don’t assume that,” he said with a smile.

Nadal did add there is a “big, big chance” this will be his final French Open, but he can’t say with 100 percent certainty because “I cannot predict what’s going on.”

After missing virtually all of 2023 due to a hip injury, Nadal returned to the court on Dec. 31 at the Brisbane International in a doubles match with Marc Lopez.

Before that match took place, Nadal admitted there was a “high percentage” 2024 would be his final year but he stopped short of definitively saying he would be retiring.

“You never know what’s going on, you know? I can’t predict how I’m going to be in the next six months. I can’t predict if my body will allow me to enjoy tennis as much as I enjoyed the past 20 years,” he said.

Nadal missed the Australian Open in January due to a “micro tear” in a muscle that occurred during his quarterfinal loss to Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International.

Rafa Nadal @RafaelNadalHi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried. Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news.
Right… pic.twitter.com/WpApfzjf3C

The injury kept Nadal out of action until April when he played at the Barcelona Open. He also played at the Madrid Open and Italian Open as part of his tune-up schedule for the French Open.

This year will mark Nadal’s first appearance at Roland Garros since 2022 when he won the French Open for the 14th time. He will take on No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev in the first round on Monday.

Nadal has never lost before the third round in any of his previous 18 appearances in this tournament. The 37-year-old’s 22 career grand slam singles titles is the second most in men’s history, trailing only Novak Djokovic’s 24.