Rafael Nadal dispels retirement fears despite comments following injury scare
World number four Rafael Nadal has put to rest retirement fears after raising concerns for his future following an injury scare at the Italian Open.
Rafael Nadal was looking to reach his 100th Masters level quarter-final in the Italian capital but was beaten by world number 15 Denis Shapovalov 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Despite cruising through the first set, Nadal was hampered by his chronic foot injury which kept him on the sidelines for the back end of the 2021 season.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion was unable to move without limping or grimacing in the match and as a result crashed out of the last 16 in the Masters 1000 event.
Following the loss to the Canadian, Nadal made some concerning post-match comments which raised fears of the Spaniard’s potential retirement.
“The moment will come when my mind will tell me ‘stop’ because pain prevents me from being happy. Not only for tennis, but for my everyday life.”
However, the 35-year-old then took to Instagram to admit he would be back in Rome next year, meaning retirement was still more than 12 months away at the very least.
“Ciao Roma! Thank you for everything!!! See you next year!” he wrote alongside a photo of himself from his third-round loss.
Even though, it was Nadal’s earliest exit in Rome since 2008 and the first time since 2004 that the ‘King of Clay’ will enter Roland Garros without at least one clay title to his name, he still remained positive about his chances of lifting a record 14th Paris Slam title.
“[It’s] in a week and a couple of days and I’m gonna keep dreaming about that goal.”
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