"I could see him playing a highly abbreviated schedule... and calling it a career at Roland Garros." @jon_wertheim explains what the finish line might look for @RafaelNadal on the @MatchPointCAN Podcast. 🎙️: megaphone.link/SINCL5954767781
Rafael Nadal could end career at 2024 Roland Garros says tennis journalist Jon Wertheim
Tennis NewsTuesday, 17 October 2023 at 11:09
Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim has said that he can see Rafael Nadal "calling it a career at Roland Garros" in 2024, thus suggesting that the Spaniard's comeback could be short-lived.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been absent for the majority of the 2023 season after he sustained a hip injury at the Australian Open in January, where he was defeated in the second round by Mackenzie McDonald.
Following this, Nadal withdrew from multiple tournaments before announcing in May that he would be undergoing surgery and would therefore miss the rest of the year on the ATP Tour. However, he hinted at a comeback in 2024, despite also suggesting that it could be his final season before retirement.
Wertheim casts doubt on longevity of Nadal's comeback
Since then, it has been widely speculated that Nadal will attempt to return at the 2024 Australian Open. This appeared to be confirmed by the tournament director Craig Tiley, but Nadal and his team have since seemed uncertain over this.
"I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open… I am practising every day and working hard to come back asap," was Nadal's cryptic response to Tiley's comments.
Meanwhile, the 37-year-old has openly shared his doubts over whether or not he would be able to win anymore Grand Slam titles upon his comeback, saying that although it was not impossible, the likelihood of winning the Australian Open or French Open was "very far away."
In response to these developments, Wertheim suggested that Nadal's comeback could be shorter than many fans are hoping for and could revolve primarily around clay courts, which is known to be his best surface.
"He can come back but if he can’t come back at peak, who’s going to be favorite to win Roland Garros... he has always obviously loved the European clay. I could see him playing a highly abbreviated schedule… Barcelona, Madrid, maybe throw in Monte Carlo, and calling it a career at Roland Garros 2024," Wertheim said on the Match Point Canada podcast.
However, he added that even though Nadal may not be able to secure more major titles, he believed that the Spaniard would certainly give it a shot.
"Even if he is not really a contender to win titles, my sense is he’s going to give this thing one more shot. If that means being a 70% Rafa [who] can still go and get a send-off and have a final sort of savor, and give fans one last memory… I think he’s ready to do that," he continued.
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