“It could have been an extraordinary season" - Toni Nadal opens up Rafa's future and retirement plans
ATPWednesday, 05 October 2022 at 17:00
Updated at Wednesday, 05 February 2025 at 13:10
Toni Nadal thinks that Rafael Nadal could have had "an extraordinary season" in 2022 had he not started struggling with injuries.
Nadal had a crazy start to the 2022 season when he managed to win 20 matches in a row before being eventually stopped by Taylor Fritz in Indian Wells.
Yet, the Spaniard continued winning also after the defeat and started the year by winning two Grand Slam titles. But after the second major of the season, Nadal struggled with injuries, and he wasn't able to fulfill his potential at Wimbledon and US Open.
In a recent interview with Dario AS, his uncle Toni Nadal, spoke about this season as well as the future plans of his nephew and when he thinks it will be time to say goodbye to the tennis world.
"I think that as long as he feels he has a chance of winning, he will continue,When he sees that he has no options, if he goes to a tournament and has no chance of winning. I don’t think he will play."
"In the end, he has won too much to fold badly. How much time does Rafa have left? I don’t know, it will clearly depend on his rivals, on his body…"
"It could have been an extraordinary season, but it has been marred by the continual inconvenience he has had. The results went well because he won Australia and Roland Garros, but you leave with a bitter taste in your mouth."
"At Wimbledon he couldn’t play a semifinal when he was playing well and was a clear candidate for the title, there were also problems in New York… What an athlete wants above all else is to be well and play, and also win."
The experienced Spanish coach, who is now working with Felix Auger-Aliassime, also spoke about Nadal's opponents and whether the 22-time Grand Slam champion focuses on the growth of other players.
"Rafael plays for him, he doesn’t think about whether Carlos Alcaraz, David Ferrer or even Djokovic is there. My nephew plays and the appearance of this or the other you take him knowing that he is a tough opponent."
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