Rafael Nadal’s retirement date and tournament remains a mystery, but one tennis journalist has urged him not to accept the “millions” to stage his big farewell event in Saudi Arabia.
The tennis great announced last year that the 2024 season will most likely be his final campaign as a professional, but he has kept mum when asked about the final event.
It was first suggested that the French Open would be his grand finale as he is a 14-time champion in Paris, but the tournament has come and gone.
Next was the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros, but Nadal has confirmed that he plans to play at the Laver Cup in Berlin in September.
In fact, after losing at Paris 2024 the 22-time Grand Slam winner snapped back at journalists who dared ask him about his future, saying: “You want me to retire every day guys, you ask me for that.
“I am trying to do my best. I cannot live every single day with the feeling that it’s going to be or not going to be my last match.”
Of course that hasn’t stopped fans, former players, analysts and journalists from speculating with some saying the Laver Cup could well be his final tournament as he will emulate his great rival Roger Federer as the Swiss bowed out of tennis after playing doubles with Nadal at the 2022 edition in London.
Next was the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros, but Nadal has confirmed that he plans to play at the Laver Cup in Berlin in September.
In fact, after losing at Paris 2024 the 22-time Grand Slam winner snapped back at journalists who dared ask him about his future, saying: “You want me to retire every day guys, you ask me for that.
“I am trying to do my best. I cannot live every single day with the feeling that it’s going to be or not going to be my last match.”
Of course that hasn’t stopped fans, former players, analysts and journalists from speculating with some saying the Laver Cup could well be his final tournament as he will emulate his great rival Roger Federer as the Swiss bowed out of tennis after playing doubles with Nadal at the 2022 edition in London.
Rafael Nadal receives gift from Kylian Mbappe as tennis icon attends Real Madrid draw
The two sporting icons came face-to-face following Real Madrid’s draw with Real Mallorca.
Rafael Nadal met Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid’s La Liga opener. (Image: X)
Rafael Nadal received a generous gift from Kylian Mbappe after the tennis icon rocked up at his Real Madrid league debut on Sunday.
Mbappe’s long-awaited transfer to the Spanish outfit was completed earlier this year, with the Frenchman already making an impact.
Turning out for the first time during Los Blancos’ UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta in mid-week, Mbappe showed the club what they’d been waiting for by getting on the scoresheet.
There would be no such festivities reserved for his La Liga debut though, with Mbappe drawing a blank during Real Madrid’s opening-day draw against Real Mallorca.
