Rafael Nadal has decided not to take part in the French Open due to injury and will not be defending his title at Roland Garros. This is the first time since the Spaniard sealed the first of the French Open titles in 2005 that Nadal will not be playing the grand slam this year. On Thursday, in a news conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca, Nadal also stated that 2024 will be his last in professional tennis. The 36-year-old legend has not played ever since he sustained a hip injury in January during his second-round loss at the Australian Open against Mackenzie McDonald.
“The first thing is I’m not going to be able to play in Roland Garros,” Nadal said.
“I was even working as much as possible every single day for last four months, they have been very difficult months because we were not able to find a solution to the problems I have in Australia.
“Today I am still in a position where I am not able to feel myself ready to compete at the standards I need to be able to play Roland Garros.
“I am not the guy who will be at Roland Garros just to play.”
Talking about last year's French Open, he came out of a niggling foot injury and defeated Casper Ruud, and became the oldest champion in tournament history. Nadal also talked about his plan which is to give his body some time to recuperate and also admitted that it can take up to three months and as a result, it will rule him out from this year’s Wimbledon.
“My goal and my ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year that will probably be my last year in the professional tour,” he added.
“That is my idea but I can’t say 100 percent it will be like this but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me.
“To enjoy being competitive and something that today is not possible. I believe if I keep going now, I will not be able to make it happen.”