Rafael Nadal 'maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time' admits Mats Wilander after short return to action

Mats Wilander praised Rafael Nadal, stating that he might be the most significant professional tennis player of all time. The former world No. 1 expressed regret over Nadal's withdrawal from the 2024 Australian Open and hopes that he can conclude his career on his own terms rather than being forced out by a new injury.

The 37-year-old Nadal made a comeback after a year away from the courts, securing victories against Dominic Thiem and Jason Kluber at the Brisbane International. However, he faced a defeat against the local player Jordan Thompson, squandering a match point. Despite showing good form after the extended hiatus from competition, the 22-times Grand Slam champion announced that he suffered a minor tear and won't be able to compete in Melbourne.

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Rafael #Nadal has missed 16 (sixteen) slams tournaments due to injury. Legend of tennis and at the same time one of the biggest “what ifs” the sport has ever seen.

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Retirements of other legends

In response, the Swedish Wilander expressed his desire for Nadal to finish his career on the court, stating, "We want him to be able to say farewell, of course. I'm not really sure what that farewell is supposed to look like," the 7-times Grand Slam champion said.

Wilander also recalled recent farewells from other legends like Federer and Serena Williams, saying, "Obviously, we had maybe one of the greatest farewells ever with Roger Federer at the Laver Cup in the O2 Arena. It wasn't unexpected that he was eventually going to say farewell, but it wasn't a very serious day of tennis," he added.

“He got to play doubles with Rafa Nadal, he lost against the American team and it was just a happy day, even though Federer lost. It was on his terms in a way. Yes, he was injured, but he just got older,” he said. “We had the farewell of Serena Williams a couple of years ago at the US Open, which was amazing. She filled the stadium she beat Annett [Kontaveit] in."

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"Maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time," Wilander praised Nadal

“Maybe we won't get the same farewell. For me, all I really want to see from Rafa Nadal is that he says farewell when he wants to say farewell, not when he's forced to say farewell, and I think at the moment the injury world is not being very kind.”

“I think it would be nice to see him healthy, maybe come to the French Open, play one more time, maybe win a couple of matches and lose to somebody that he deserves to,” Wilander continued.

“Lose to a younger player, or maybe a colossus, maybe Novak Djokovic. But we're hoping for miracles, and the miracles might not happen,” Wilander added.

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“To see him play one more time in Brisbane was brilliant, to see the passion, to see him sweating like nobody else. I think that's the memory that I will have with Rafa, not the press message which says that, ‘Unfortunately, I have to pull out of the Australian Open’.

“I'm not looking at that. I'm looking at the last image of Nadal with him sweating, missing match points in Brisbane against Jordan Thompson. That's my memory. He's one of the greatest players of all time, and maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time,” Mats Wilander concluded.

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Replying to @RafaelNadal

I have worked very hard during the year for this comeback and as I always mentioned my goal is to be at my best level in 3 months. Within the sad news for me for not being able to play in front of the amazing Melbourne crowds, this is not very bad news and we all remain positive…

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