Rafael Nadal considering huge decision on tennis future

Nadal's absence from the upcoming French Open will be his first since making his debut in 2005, an event he won. The lefty is the current No. 14 men's singles player in the world and will be joined on the sideline by 26th-ranked Nick Kyrgios, who recently suffered a foot injury while helping police stop a robbery of his Tesla.

The French Open runs from May 28 to June 11.

If Nadal does indeed call it quits next year, he'll join fellow tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams as part of an iconic trio of recent retirees. Federer -- Nadal's longtime friend and rival -- announced his retirement in September 2022 and Williams announced her decision last summer as well.

"Rafa" is tied with Novak Djokovic for the most Grand Slam men's singles titles with 22 and holds the record for most clay court wins in the Open Era with 63. Nadal's record 14 French Open championships are also a record at any single tournament.

Nadal will turn 37 in June and when announcing his plans on Thursday, added that while he doesn't want to set a date for his return to action, he thinks it will take months.

"You never know how things will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year," he said, according to an Associated Press report.