Former World No. 1 Rafael Nadal continues to fight on the ATP Tour despite fitness concerns. He’s played just two events so far this season but remains adamant about finishing his career on the court. This week, he will be seen in action at the 2024 Madrid Masters.
Nadal is a five-time champion at the ATP-1000 event, having won his last title at the event in 2017. Although his chances of winning this year are very low, he will still be the biggest crowd-puller, given that this could be his final appearance at the event.
All the attempts to get maximum practice on clay correspond to his desire to make a big run at the 2024 French Open. The King of Clay has won the Grand Slam event 14 times, the most by any player at any single Major tournament. But for Adriano Panatta, it could be the last event of the Spaniard’s career.
The era of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic is at the end. I think Nadal will stop after Roland Garros, Djokovic could retire at the end of the year, because in 2025 he would be 38 years old and he is realizing that he will no longer be able to continue as he would like. Said Adriano Panatta, speaking with OA Sport.
Panatta has himself been a former Roland Garros winner, clinching the title back in 1976. A renowned figure in Italian tennis, his analysis is quite respected. However, his claim of Nadal retiring in Paris could turn out to be incorrect.
The 22-time singles Grand Slam title winner confirmed his place at the 2024 Laver Cup for Team Europe later this year. Although things could go south till then, it still shows Nadal is not yet ready to retire. With the Olympics in Paris this year, the Spaniard could be tempted to go hunting for his second singles gold.
Adriano Panatta hoping for a Nadal-Djokovic first-round clash in this year’s French Open
While the Italian sounded his verdict on the remaining tenure of Nadal’s career, he also expressed a very peculiar wish. With Novak Djokovic being the defending champion in Paris this year and Nadal currently ranked outside the Top 500, Panatta hopes the two heavyweights meet in the first round.
Not only does he want a first-round matchup, but he has also predicted Djokovic to defeat the Spaniard. The Serb is one of the two men in history to defeat Nadal at the French Open. Nole, however, remains the only man to achieve the rare feat twice.
At Roland Garros I hope that Nadal finds Djokovic in the first round, I would be very disappointed if someone who has won 14 times in Paris goes out against anyone. Added Adriano Panatta.
The possibility of Nadal and Djokovic clashing in the first round is, however, very slim. There’s a good chance that Nadal could be seeded in the event if the tournament organizers decide on it. In that case, the clash could be delayed. But certainly, it would be a big match, something even Djokovic has desired.
More must-reads: