“No, this can’t be the truth!” Rafael Nadal’s return to the tennis courts after a long hiatus has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Fans were thrilled to see the Spanish legend back in action at the Swedish Open, hoping for a triumphant comeback. And Rafa did not disappoint—he played remarkably well, defying the odds and pushing through every challenge. But just when the tennis world thought they were witnessing another epic Nadal comeback, heartbreak struck in the finals. Rafa fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, leaving fans gutted. As if the loss wasn’t enough, what came next was even more devastating.

Rafael Nadal lost in the finals of the Swedish Open to Nuno Borges in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. Borges delivered a rock-solid performance against the 22-time Grand Slam winner and broke the Spaniard’s serve five times en route to victory in his maiden tour-level final. This also marked an end to Nadal’s hope of winning an ATP title after a two-year drought. But what followed after the match, was a heart-wrenching remark from the ‘King of Clay.’

Speaking in his on-court interview, Rafa thanked his family and team for their support. “To my team and family.. I can’t thank you enough for everything. It hasn’t been easy moments the last few years. Even in the low moments, my team and family have been with me every single day, helping me in every way. Thank you so much everybody for being there all the time.” But then, a veiled announcement of retirement broke the hearts of tennis enthusiasts.

Continuing further, Nadal thanked the crowd and said, “You made me feel special on court and gave me a lot of energy in the tough moments. I don’t know if I’ll be back here playing.” Answering his own rhetoric, he said, “Probably not,” signifying that the end of his career was soon. Rafa played some physically draining matches at the tournament. His quarterfinal run against Mariano Navone lasted for over four hours. Besides, his semi-final clash that came the next day was equally draining. This also made the Spaniard withdraw from the doubles category with Casper Ruud. But, Nadal has been long mulling over ending his career.

The Spanish legend missed a big portion of his season in 2023. After injuring a hip flexor at the Australian Open in 2023, he underwent surgery and missed most of his season last year. This year too, he has faced hip pain and abdominal issues and missed many important events like Wimbledon. These injuries have made him make similar remarks about his career in the past as well.

Ahead of his match against Alexander Zverev at the French Open, he cast doubt on his return to the tournament again. “It’s a big, big chance that it’s going to be my last Roland Garros, but if I have to tell you it’s 100 percent my last Roland Garros, sorry, but I will not, because I cannot predict what’s going on. I hope you understand.” While the tennis great is now preparing for the Paris Olympics, his next schedule is undecided. 

Will Rafael Nadal play at the US Open?

Rafael Nadal is probably nearing the end of his career. And this is exactly why he has decided not to strain his body physically. Rafa has also made it clear that his schedule after this year’s Olympics is not decided as of yet and he will take a call only after the grand tournament.

Speaking if he would play in the US Open, Nadal said, “I’m going to decide what’s going on after Olympics.” However, he made his participation clear for one specific tournament. “By the way, I will be playing in the Laver Cup but I am, to be clear, and to not create false expectations, I am not sure at all to be in New York or not.” Reiterating his statements about the US Open, he said, “No decision today and the decision will not happen before the end of Olympics.”

As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if the ‘King of Clay’ can achieve big once more ahead of his retirement. Will Rafael Nadal shine at the Olympics? Only time will tell!