Rafael Nadal returned to action at the Brisbane International in early 2024 after a year-long injury.
Nadal’s long-awaited comeback saw him go to the quarterfinals, where he lost to Jordan Thompson while suffering a muscle rupture near his hip. Several months later, Nadal bounced back at the Barcelona Open, but was eliminated in the round of 32. This statement spurred talk that the struggling tennis icon would retire in 2024 and that the rest of the year would be a farewell tour, with Nadal making tournament appearances as needed.
Since then, Nadal has competed in the Madrid Masters, Rome Masters, Roland Garros (where he received an epic ovation from the audience), Bastad, and, most recently, the Paris Olympics, where he faced his long-time nemesis Novak Djokovic for the final time, losing 6-1, 6-4. Following the Paris Olympics, Nadal revealed that he will forgo the US Open but would still compete in the forthcoming 2024 Laver Cup. Naturally, many fans anticipate that the Laver Cup will be his final competition, with Roger Federer possibly returning from retirement to join in the goodbye.
Nadal and Federer Might Play Doubles at the 2024 Laver Cup
The tennis world can rejoice: Nadal and Federer may play doubles again in the 2024 Laver Cup, having previously done so in 2022 for Federer’s farewell performance.
Regarding a prospective comeback, Federer stated, “I don’t think we’ll play doubles together at the Laver Cup, but if he asks me, I’ll definitely be there.” Essentially, it all comes down to Nadal. If he decides to hang up his racket this year and summon Federer, the historic tandem will wear Team Europe’s blue one more time in September. However, Federer has been retired for two years and will need some time to train before returning to the court. So, unless Nadal has already told Federer in private that he wants him to return, they may not play doubles together again until the 2025 Laver Cup, if ever.
This scenario is especially possible given recent reports that Nadal is considering continuing his tennis career for another season, taking him to the end of 2025. According to gamble-usa.com, most sportsbooks now predict that Nadal will play tennis in some capacity in 2025, with a heavy emphasis on making one final appearance at Roland Garros.
When Will Nadal Retire from Tennis?
Throughout much of 2024, Nadal has been questioned by numerous journalists and members of the media about his retirement plans. Most recently, during the Paris Olympics, Nadal answered, “When this tournament is over, I will make the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desires”–his regular response at every tournament he has competed in this year.
One thing is certain: Nadal has been in severe bodily agony for the past two years. Combine this with his age (Nadal is already 38), and it’s easy to see why he’s suffered so much on the court, finding it nearly impossible to regain his prior years’ form. The good news is that Nadal had a more consistent mid-to-late 2024 run and performed well in moments during the Paris Olympics, so he may still have enough in the tank to play another year of tennis in 2025.
If Nadal plans to play tennis in 2025, he is likely to make an announcement around the end of 2024. The biggest factor here is Nadal’s ability to stay injury-free. If Nadal’s recovery efforts are derailed by another injury, it could be the ultimate blow to his career.
Summary: What the Future Holds for Nadal’s Tennis Career
Will Federer make a surprise comeback from retirement to play doubles alongside Nadal at the 2024 Laver Cup? It is totally plausible. However, with recent speculations suggesting that Nadal may be considering extending his tennis career until 2025, no one knows for certain what will happen. For the time being, Nadal’s team has not made a formal announcement, and he is still training and attempting to stay fit.