Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Laver Cup, with many fans expecting him to declare his retirement shortly.
Rafael Nadal’s final year as a professional tennis player could be in 2024, and the Paris Olympics were most likely his last performance. In Paris 2024, the Spaniard lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round and competed in men’s doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz. After the Olympics, he withdrew from the 2024 US Open.
He was scheduled to compete in the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin in September. However, tennis fans will be disappointed to learn that the Spaniard has opted to withdraw from the competition. The decision has reignited rumours about his retirement, with many believing it would happen soon.
“I’m really disappointed to announce that I will be unable to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week. This is a team tournament, and in order to truly support Team Europe, I must do what is best for them, and there are other players that can assist the team in achieving victory right now. I have so many wonderful, emotional memories from playing Laver Cup, and I was very excited to be alongside my teammates and Bjorn in his final year as captain. “I wish Team Europe the best of luck and will cheer them on from afar,” he remarked.
With Nadal’s withdrawal, Team Europe has yet to announce a replacement. Team Europe now includes Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Nadal returned from injury at the 2024 Brisbane International. He lost in the quarterfinals and was injured again, thus he missed the Australian Open. He was eliminated in the first round of the French Open and did not compete at Wimbledon. He returned to action in July at the Swedish Open before competing in Paris in 2024. He also withdrew from the 2024 US Open.