ARTICLES:
- What next for Rafael Nadal? Rest, convalescence and – hopefully – the last step in 2024 | olympics
How cool would it be to see her end her career not only at the Philippe Chatrier Court in Paris, but also as the Olympic tennis event returns to clay for the first time in over 30 years?
“It’s hard for me to predict what my situation will be, what my body will look like,” Nadal said when asked if Paris 2024 could be the perfect goodbye. “I don’t want to say one thing and do another.
He continued: “Of course the Olympics are one of the competitions I would love to be at. I can’t say if this will be my last or not. I hope to be there. Whether this is my last tournament or not, I can’t say right now.
- What is the French Open without Rafael Nadal? | ESPN
In May 2021, they unveiled a three-metre tall statue of Nadal near the Jardin des Mousquetaires, a lasting reminder of the man who went beyond clay court sport. It is rare for such a gesture to mark an athlete who leaves sweat on the surface a few meters away.
But it was the first step in recognizing his heritage and preparing for life in this corner of Paris without Nadal. So what do they do next to mark his impact on the tournament? They are unlikely to rename one of the existing main courts, and the trophy is already named after the French “four musketeers” who ruled men’s tennis in the late 1920s, but nothing is off the table.
They hope they don’t have to do that just yet, but it seems to be fast approaching – and this year will offer a vision of an unpredictable post-Nadal era.
- “Dream” by Carlos Alcaraz about playing Olympic doubles with Rafael Nadal | NBC
Carlos Alcaraz has said it would be a dream to play the 2024 Olympic doubles with Rafael Nadal in what will likely be Nadal’s final appearance at Roland Garros in Paris.
“It could be a dream to play doubles with him at the Olympics,” Alcaraz said on Friday. “So, of course, let’s see. Let’s see how he does and how he does this year. Let’s hope he’s doing great. But yes, doubles with him would be a dream for me.
- Rafael Nadal is my favorite of the Big Three, says Yannick Noah | sportskeeda.com
However, Noah said that he favors Nadal over the other two greats because of his humility.
“Of the three, I like Rafa the most because he respects the ball boys, the transport people, the people who don’t have cameras. If you’re thinking of things beyond what people measure, Rafa is definitely number one. Rafa has won 22 Grand Slam tournaments and when you see him he is still the same humble guy he always was. For that reason, out of the three, he is my favourite,” he commented.
VIDEO: “Roland Garros without Rafa is like a French bakery without croissants” – Steve Weissman
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