Rafael Nadal is currently preparing for one last dance at the French Open. While the entire tennis world is adjusting to the thought of Nadal’s looming retirement, his longtime rival Roger Federer weighed in on the subject recently. But his candid reflections on Nadal’s decision to retire also had a tinge of hope mixed with it.

“If Rafa says “ciao”, it’s on the court,” Roger Federer said during an interview, a glimpse of which is posted on X today. Federer, who himself retired back in 2022, held his racquet for the last time with Nadal by his side on-court during the Laver Cup. After almost two years, it is time for Nadal, with whom he has maintained an on-court rivalry since 2004, to do the same. However, Federer exuded his confidence in Nadal and added, “I hope he plays a lot longer than we think. But the question is his body as he said himself.”

The 22-grand-slam champion stayed away from tennis since the start of 2023. After the Australian Open last year, Rafael Nadal took a long break owing to his hip flexor injury. But, he eventually came back again this year, in January, and played in Brisbane. But even then, he sustained a muscle tear that kept him from participating in Indian Wells in March. Then he withdrew from the Monte-Carlo Masters as well. “My body simply won’t allow me,” he stated as the reason.

Rafael Nadal, in a recent interview with Movistar, revealed the reason behind his absence from the court since January – a nagging abdominal issue. “Many people have mental problems, and I also have them when in my work I can’t manage to fight for my goals, but, no, it’s physical, I have abdominal problems since I returned from Australia.”

The champion spoke openly about the physical challenges he’s facing. “My body won’t let me. It’s getting difficult for me. It’s been a difficult year and a half, I’m trying every day. I have things to solve, and the reality is that at the moment I’m not being able to put myself in a position to compete. It’s hard,” the Mallorcan said.

Overcoming all the difficulties, the ‘King of Clay’ ultimately returned on-court in the Barcelona Open and has been playing back-to-back tournaments since then. Right now, he is vying for his 15th French Open title in the upcoming Roland Garros tournament. And Federer, who remains a good friend with Nadal off-court, hopes he continues his reign in tennis for longer than expected. And why not?

Since the beginning of his career, Nadal’s on-court excellence has remained unparalleled. The most prominent example of his skills on-court was displayed against Federer, with whom he has played 40 matches during his career. And among them, Nadal has won 24 times! However, right now, the former World No. 1 is focusing on saying goodbye to those intense and closely fought matches in the tournaments.

Rafael Nadal talks about his “motivation” behind playing in the 2024 season

The 37-year-old is possibly on the last tour of his career. And he is doing exactly what he planned to do last year. It is nothing but gradually closing each chapter of his career with love and gratitude. “My idea, my motivation is try to say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me in my career. And just enjoy being competitive and enjoy being on court, which today is not possible,” Rafael Nadal said in 2023.

Rafael Nadal’s Barcelona Open farewell made us all teary-eyed last month. Especially when the crowd chanted “Rafa Rafa Rafa” while the banners of his achievements in Barcelona hung in the air. Fast forward to the Italian Open tournament, where fans gathered outside the ground to pay tribute to the ten-time winner of the Italian Open title.

But now it’s time for him to be back on the clay courts of Roland Garros, a place where Nadal has several achievements. While he proceeds, like Federer said, we all hope he stays a little “bit longer” in the tennis world!