Rafael Nadal has been dealt another blow as he bids to put together a dream farewell season with the Spaniard confirming that his body will force him to miss the upcoming Monte-Carlo Masters.

 

But I read here that he is going to be 100% fit for the clay season?


Jokes aside not looking very good.

 

But I read here that he is going to be 100% fit for the clay season?

No, that was just the illusion as Nadal wrote in his tweet. With this decision, he just came back down to earth.

 

This is indeed bad. I hate weak years. With Djokovic out of form, there is no hope left anymore.

 

 

the whole thread:

 

I’m not surprised, he doesn’t want to risk Roland Garros. Pretty sure he’s eyeing the French Open to play the last match of his career.

 

Imagine playing Brisbane Challenger event instead of resting up and going all out on clay

 

I sort of get not wanting to miss an etire year of competitive tennis, but it seems like his body can only handle a couple of matches every few months. Hopefully he can play one or two at RG.

 

nid but sad. is he even going to play montecarlo again?

 

He's done

Doing the Sampras it seems

Wonder if he will play Barcelona

 

His body looks pretty well In this video, should have said I choose Barcelona or Madrid over Monte Carlo.

 

He has a back injury and cannot serve these days

 

Sadly Rod Laver's body will not him allowed to play too. Rafa is not 25 or 30 to fell to sort. He is closer to 40 than to 35.

 

Just hope by all this intense training and practising he isn't endangering his health post retirement, cos he ain't winning RG no matter what. I don't know why he doesn't stop torturing himself and just enjoy his beautiful family.

 

Doesn't seem like he's jeopardizing that. If he can be out there hitting, I'm pretty sure the pain isn't that bad (also going by the clips I've seen). But the demands of an actual match are a different thing. Why he isn't stopping is self evident. Same as Murray. You want to go out on a high, or at minimum on your own terms / on the court. A proper farewell. Fed never really got that. Laver Cup... Well, better than nothing. Also his own creation, and with top names present, so you were able to at least craft some sort of a celebratory weekend. In Nadal's case... If need be I can see him even sitting this season out completely to give his body time to heal, to then have his farewell on the court. But I don't know the specifics of his current issue. I've seen people mention it's his back this time.

 

Honestly, I am not sure what Rafa's plan is. If he is not in shape to play a few warm-up matches now, no way is he going to be in shape to play a slam one month from now. In that scenario, he would be entering RG just to play a farewell match. I am not sure that I would want my last match at RG to be an R1 exit if I were Rafa. As it stands, he still has won the title in his last RG appearance and should let it remain that way.

 

Can recall he was completely crippled in crotches a few years ago and still ended up winning. Further serve on clay is overrated, just serve underhand and grind out them backhands with lasso FH's

 

Sampras' ending was brilliantly perfect: winning the USO 2002 as his last waltz when he was clearly declined and nobody expected it.

Nadal's ending will not be perfect: all ATP pros will be hungry to finish him off for good at his former Roland Garros backyard. Everyone knows they will go down in history by toasting him at RG where he holds an 112-3 record (97,4%) in his last match. The predators smell blood, tennis is a brutal zero sum game.

Imagine that Nadal gets bagelled by a nobody in R1 or R2. It will be as tragic and pathetic as Muhammad Ali's miserable comebacks in boxing.

 

22 >>> 14 is really all that matters

 

Career so over. I have to accept as sad as it is.

 

silent ban vibes tbh and much more to come me thinks.

 

Nadal is determined to make Federer's 2021 season look better in comparison to his own 2024 for some reason.
Maybe they're really as good friends as the media presents them.

 

That's it.

Only one question remains unsolved, who will be the chosen one who will send Nadal to official retirement at RG.

 

Expected news after all the rumours this week. Hope he can recover enough to play at least part of the clay season competitively but it's not looking good. Sad for Rafa that his body is letting him down and his farewell tour is not going according to plan. Given his fighting spirit, it must be hard for him to accept.

 

Soon the Big 4 will be history. Federer is out, Nadal probably after the Olympics and Murray by the end of the year. Djokovic might play in 2025 as the last man standing but I bet it will be his last year on tour.

 

Soon the Big 4 will be history. Federer is out, Nadal probably after the Olympics and Murray by the end of the year. Djokovic might play in 2025 as the last man standing but I bet it will be his last year on tour.

When was it ever big 4. I have heard of big 3. Murray with his 3 GS will never be in the same status as the big 3. The man in my profile pic and other 90s stars were far greater than murry mkk

 

Even on a wheelchair he'll have chances in Paris. These guys have posters of him in their bedrooms

 

Yeah... Well, the utmost top have caught up. These guys have arrived, and their posters are also plastered on people's walls now.

 

Nadal needs to listen to Dirty Harry's words of wisdom.

 

in the worst case he could ask Roger to play doubles with him in Paris and retire that way.

It would be better than losing or getting injured during a singles match.

 

Expected.

I was never a fan, but I wish he can come back and have a proper retirement tournament really. Or at least he can do like Federer and play a doubles farewell on Laver Cup. Maybe with Alcaraz.

 

I think Nadal should just hang it up. It was a great career without a doubt. One of the greatest tennis players ever. Its better for him to not try and be like Federer and get embarrassed trying to stop Djokovic with one leg.