Rafael Nadal chose not to have a tribute at the 2024 Roland Garros, explaining his decision recently.
Despite having a special ceremony at the Madrid Open this year after his final match in Madrid, Nadal declined a similar tribute at Roland Garros. In an interview with L’Equipe, the Spaniard expressed his hope of playing in 2025, based on positive signals from his body.
Reports also suggest that Nadal is contemplating playing beyond this year.
“I feel like I’m finding the pleasure of playing again, having fun. I want to give myself a chance to see if my physique remains at this level or if it is only a temporary moment and that it starts to go wrong again. I give myself time to see how I will feel after the Olympic Games and then we will see what will happen, what decisions I will make.”
Nadal mentioned in the same interview that while he initially considered the special ceremony, he later decided against it as he continued to practice. He wasn’t convinced it was his final appearance at the clay-court major.
“At first, I said, ‘OK, let’s go!’ But at the last minute I said I didn’t want it, that’s the truth. It would have bothered me to announce that it was the last time I was playing the tournament, knowing that I did not have the opportunity to prepare as I would have liked. And nothing prevents them from waiting a year.”
“If the tribute takes place and I am retired, I will go there as a retiree. And if I still play, I will obviously be present. I preferred not to live with the idea that they had to pay tribute to me, because it was practically forcing me not to play here again and I was not ready at that time.”
