Rafael Nadal is currently an active player, but that won't always be the case, as he will take some time after the Olympics to contemplate his future.
Much has been said about Nadal and his future in recent months, but no one knows the real answer about wat will happen. The way Andy Murray's final months went is essentially how Nadal's final months could go as well.
Not in the sense that he will lose a lot of matches, but mainly in the sense that he likely won't know when he will be retiring. Nadal admitted before his comeback that 2024 would be his final year on the ATP Tour, but both he and his uncle Toni, who often serves as a spokesperson for Nadal, backtracked these claims.
Nadal hinted at possibly playing next year as well, depending on how his body feels. If his body feels great and he can play competitive tennis, then he might play also in 2025.
On the other hand, if it doesn't and his body doesn't allow him to compete the way he wants, then he won't play. It's as simple as that, but at this very moment, he simply doesn't know it yet.
He's still competing right now and plans to do so in the future. He briefly talked about his future ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, admitting that he will take some time after the Olympic Games to think about it.
He also confirmed once more that the only tournament he knows he will play is the Laer Cup, but anything after that isn't known.
"Nothing is linear in this life. There are moments and states, which usually go according to physical states. I try to enjoy and live what I feel at every moment, always with a positive vision of what my day-to-day life is within my possibilities. After here I will take some time to think carefully about what I need for myself as a person, what I really want to do. I'll play the Laver Cup."
Obviously, most of his schedule will depend on how his body feels. We've seen this year that he's still motivated and wants to compete, but his body hasn't always cooperated.
He looked good in Australia and played well, but then he injured himself. He also had the same experience in March, and even when he did look competitive during the clay season, it was pretty clear that his body was limiting him.
It's unlikely that he will ever get to his best again, and if his body keeps breaking down, winning titles will become more challenging than it has ever been in the career of the 22-time major winner.
He's always been adamant that he won't have an issue with walking away from the sport when the time comes, so there is a chance he may also follow his good friend and rival, Roger Federer, and retire at the aforementioned Laver Cup.
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