Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni reveals retirement dilemma – ‘Rafa would have liked another season’

Legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will retire at the end of this season, but his uncle Toni has revealed the 14-time French Open winner had hoped to play into 2025. He claimed Nadal had originally “put off” retirement in the hope that he might win more titles on his favoured clay surface. Instead, the Spaniard will finish his career after the Davis Cup Finals in November.

Toni Nadal has revealed that Rafael Nadal wanted to continue for another season before announcing his retirement from tennis. The legendary Spaniard has confirmed he will end his career after representing Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in November.

But his former coach and uncle has admitted there was some hesitation from the 22-time Grand Slam winner, who had aspirations of more success on clay.

“Rafa would have liked another good season on clay and that means winning or at least performing at a good level,” Toni Nadal told Marca. “He has not retired as he would have liked. I always told him not to complain because life has treated us better than we expected.

“Looking back now, you can say why he put it off, but Rafa had the hope of still giving his best version and when he was not convinced, he retired.
“It’s just that his body doesn’t respond. When he forces his body, it suffers from one part or another. The same thing happened to [Roger] Federer, he tried for two years and left.”
Nadal, who boasts an extraordinary 14 French Open crowns, has been hindered by persistent injuries throughout his 30s, diminishing his ability to compete at the very highest level.

He remained consistently brilliant on clay, though, winning his last Grand Slam at Roland-Garros in 2022 with a straight-sets victory over Casper Ruud.
But there was a feeling of sad acceptance when Nadal confirmed his imminent retirement.

“We have a family chat and Rafa said on Thursday that in a few hours a video was coming out announcing his retirement,” Toni added. “In the group we are the five brothers and older nephews. I’m a pretty dry guy and I wrote to him: ‘Congratulations, you’ve had a good career.’ The others went on a bit longer. I say things up front, which makes me less lazy.”

Nadal’s announcement prompted a wave of tributes from across the tennis world.
Roger Federer wrote on Instagram: “What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honour!”

Roger Federer to Rafa Nadal after announcing his retirement from tennis.

Always supporting each other til the very end. pic.twitter.com/qQNkCler2k

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 10, 2024

Nadal’s other great rival Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, wrote: “Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general.
“Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player.”
The Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where Nadal will link up with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, promise to be an emotional occasion as one of the sport’s greats bids farewell.