Rafael Nadal said he will decide on his future after the Olympics following a straight-sets defeat to long-time rival Novak Djokovic at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Monday.
“When this tournament is over, I will make the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desire,” said Nadal after losing 6-1, 6-4 in his 60th career meeting with Djokovic.
Nadal, playing in just his seventh tournament of the year due to injury disruptions, admitted that at 38, he no longer has the stamina of his younger years. The Spanish star, who won Olympic gold in singles in 2008 and doubles in Rio 2016, captured his last Grand Slam title with a 14th French Open victory in 2022. His ranking has since dropped to 161 in the world.
In May, Nadal faced his first-ever opening-round loss at the French Open and subsequently skipped Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics. “For many people, it makes little sense, I have been suffering for two years,” added Nadal, describing Monday’s loss as “tough.”
“If I feel that I am not competitive, I will decide to stop. I just try my best every single day, trying to enjoy a thing that I have been enjoying for so much time. I have been suffering a lot of injuries over the last two years. So if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I’m not ready to keep going I will stop and let you know.”
Despite the defeat, Nadal still hopes for a gold medal in the men’s doubles, where he is partnering with Carlos Alcaraz.
Monday’s victory marked Djokovic’s 31st win in their rivalry, which began on the Roland Garros clay courts in 2006. Nadal was largely outclassed in the highly anticipated encounter, only coming briefly to life when he won four games in a row in the second set.
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