Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement Plans and Withdrawal from French Open Due to Injury

Tennis star Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from the French Open due to a lingering hip injury and that he expects 2024 to be the final season of his career. The news was delivered during a news conference at his tennis academy in Manacor, Spain.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who turns 37 next month, said he does not want to set a date for his return to the tennis tour, but expects it to take months. He added, “You never know how things will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year.”

This will be the first time Nadal has missed the French Open since making his debut there in 2005. He holds a record 14 championships at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal has been sidelined since January due to the hip injury. He has been rehabilitating and training in Spain, but has not been able to compete.

The tennis star has not yet made any plans for his retirement, but he is looking forward to the future. He said, “I am looking forward to the next few years and I am sure I will have some great moments.”