Rafael Nadal has been advised by a tennis journalist not to take the “millions” to stage his major farewell event in Saudi Arabia, although his retirement date and tournament are yet unknown.
The legendary tennis player said last year that the 2024 season will probably be his last one as a professional. However, he has not commented on the exact final match.
Since he has won in Paris 14 times, it was first thought that the French Open would be his great finale; nevertheless, the competition has come and gone.
The Paris Olympics at Roland Garros came next, although Nadal has stated that he will play in September at the Laver Cup in Berlin.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion actually retaliated against reporters who dared question him about his future after losing in Paris 2024, stating, “You want me to retire every day folks, you ask me for that.”
“I’m doing my best to try.” I can’t go through every day worrying about whether or not this will be my final match.
Naturally, this hasn’t stopped supporters, ex-players, commentators, and media from making predictions. According to some, the Laver Cup may be his last match, and he’ll follow in the footsteps of his fierce rival Roger Federer, who retired from tennis after losing to Rafael Nadal in doubles at the London 2022 tournament.
The French journalist Benoît Maylin does not believe that the tournament—or an exhibition event in Saudi Arabia—should be his grand farewell, even though the Laver Cup is a component of the ATP-sanctioned event.
Who will be able to pay for the farewell to Rafael Nadal? Maylin stated on Sans Fillet that “it should have been in Roland Garros this year or at the Olympics; the symbolism would have been powerful but he didn’t want it.”
Like Federer, who lined up the zeros to win it in September, would he bid farewell at the Laver Cup? Who could put together an exhibition worth millions of dollars in Saudi Arabia, where he was appointed ambassador of the country’s tennis federation this year?
“That would damage the reputation of a champion known for his moral character, as long as it’s nothing like that.”
The Frenchman believes that the Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in Malaga, Spain, will serve as a more fitting farewell for the tennis icon.
He went on, “So if he needs to stop this year, let him do it in Spain, where he can play Davis Cup alongside Carlos Alcaraz while protecting his nation’s colours.” That would be really lovely.
Spain still has to make it to the Malaga Davis Cup Finals knockout round. In September, they play France, Australia, and the Czech Republic in the group stage.
After placing third in Group C behind the Czech Republic and Serbia the year before, they were unable to advance to the knockout stage.
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