Nadal to decide on future ‘after Olympics’

By Daily Sports Nigeria on July 30, 2024

Rafael Nadal said he will make a decision on his future in tennis “after the Olympics” in the aftermath of a shattering straight-sets defeat to old rival Novak Djokovic at the Paris Games on Monday.

“When this tournament is over, I will take the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desire,” said Nadal, after losing 6-1, 6-4 in his 60th career meeting with Djokovic.

Nadal, playing in just his seventh tournament of the year after another campaign disrupted by injuries, admitted that at 38 he did not “have the legs of 20 years ago”.

The Spaniard, a gold medallist at the Olympics in singles in 2008 and doubles at Rio eight years later, won the last of his 22 Grand Slam titles when he captured a 14th French Open in Paris in 2022.

His ranking, which once stood proudly at number one, has slumped to 161 in the world.

In May, he suffered his first ever opening-round loss at the French Open and then skipped Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics.

“For many people it makes little sense, I have been suffering for two years,” added Nadal who described Monday’s loss as “tough”.

“If I feel that I am not competitive I will make the decision to stop. I just try my best every single day, trying to enjoy a thing that I have been enjoying for so much time.

“I have been suffering a lot of injuries the last two years. So if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I’m not ready to keep going I will stop and let you know.”

Despite his defeat, Nadal still has hopes of a gold medal in the men’s doubles where he is playing alongside Carlos Alcaraz.

Monday’s win was 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic’s 31st in a rivalry which began on the same Roland Garros clay courts in 2006.

Nadal was largely outclassed in the much anticipated encounter, only coming briefly to life when he won four games in a row in the second set.

“I’m very relieved,” said Djokovic after the second round win.

“Back in 2006, I don’t think we would have thought we would be playing against each other on the same court at the Olympics.”

Nadal conceded that Djokovic was the better player throughout the contest.

“Playing against Novak, without creating damage to him and without having the legs of, 20 years ago is, is almost impossible now.”

 

•⁠ ⁠Signs of age –

In a sign of the wear and tear the pair have endured in recent months, Djokovic wore protective strapping around his right knee while Nadal’s right thigh was heavily strapped.

Djokovic raced to 4-0 lead, on the back of a double break, and held for 5-0 before Nadal stopped the rot much to the relief of a packed, sweltering crowd.

Djokovic pocketed the one-sided opener when Nadal ballooned a forehand wide of the mark.

Source Punch Ng

Posted July 30, 2024


 

You may also like...
Leeds United Spank Sorry West Brom

NPFL Super 6: Drama, anguish, relief on match–day...

Ndidi ready to die for Nigeria against Iceland...

PSG Beat Lille With Late Di Maria Strike...

Baxter unveils squad for Eagles

US Diplomats To Boycott 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics...

 

Latest News NOC Hails Oshodi For Winning Africa Table Tennis Continental Top Post NOC Hails Oshodi For Winning Africa Table Tennis Continental Top Post Adesanya hails Ngannou as best heavyweight UFC fighter Flamingos will make Nigeria proud — Olowookere Davido, Burna Boy to feature in NPFL All-Star Game Car crash: Leverkusen explain Boniface’s health condition Kayode’s hat-trick delights Şanlıurfaspor POTM award thrills Flamingos’ Chidi Dubois warns Joshua ahead of rematch Osimhen’s bicycle kick goal work of art — Galatasaray NPFL: Remo beat Insurance to go top Victor Osimhen appreciates his decision to join Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, adding that he didn’t want anyone to decide his future. The Nigeria striker made this assertion while reflecting on his protracted summer transfer saga that saw Napoli desperately sell him off to Al-Ahli and Chelsea in the embers of the window, with the latter his long-term choice destination offering peanuts for his signature. The 25-year-old said that he was prepared to remain at Napoli for another three or four months and secure a move to one of his suitors in January, reiterating the relief ushered by the Galatasaray offer. “I had plans to stay there and wait for three or four months and leave in January, but I think for me it was fair also to stay there because I wouldn’t let anyone decide for me,” Osimhen told Turkish media, including TRT Spor, from the Galatasaray training centre.

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,125 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,247 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,326 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,969 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,911 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,861 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,702 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,272 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,311 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,021 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,472 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,894 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media