“Nadal’s Retirement Hopes: Wilander Urges a Farewell on His Own Terms”
Former world No. 1 and tennis legend Mats Wilander recently lauded Rafael Nadal, hailing him as possibly the most significant professional tennis player in history. Wilander expressed regret over Nadal’s withdrawal from the 2024 Australian Open and hopes that the 37-year-old can conclude his illustrious career on his own terms, rather than being forced out…
Former world No. 1 and tennis legend Mats Wilander recently lauded Rafael Nadal, hailing him as possibly the most significant professional tennis player in history. Wilander expressed regret over Nadal’s withdrawal from the 2024 Australian Open and hopes that the 37-year-old can conclude his illustrious career on his own terms, rather than being forced out by a new injury.
Nadal, who made a comeback after a year away from the courts, secured victories against Dominic Thiem and Jason Kluber at the Brisbane International. Despite showing good form, he faced a defeat against local player Jordan Thompson, missing a match point. Subsequently, the 22-times Grand Slam champion announced a minor tear that would prevent him from competing in Melbourne.
Reflecting on Nadal’s situation, Wilander conveyed his desire for the Spanish player to retire on the court, saying, “We want him to be able to say farewell, of course. I’m not really sure what that farewell is supposed to look like.” Wilander pointed to recent farewells from other tennis legends, citing Roger Federer’s Laver Cup farewell and Serena Williams’ memorable exit at the US Open.
“We had maybe one of the greatest farewells ever with Roger Federer at the Laver Cup in the O2 Arena. It wasn’t unexpected that he was eventually going to say farewell, but it wasn’t a very serious day of tennis,” Wilander recalled. “We had the farewell of Serena Williams a couple of years ago at the US Open, which was amazing.”
Expressing concern about Nadal’s farewell, Wilander emphasized the importance of seeing him retire on his terms. He stated, “For me, all I really want to see from Rafa Nadal is that he says farewell when he wants to say farewell, not when he’s forced to say farewell.” Despite acknowledging the challenges in the current injury landscape, Wilander remains hopeful of witnessing Nadal healthy and possibly competing at the French Open.
“To see him play one more time in Brisbane was brilliant, to see the passion, to see him sweating like nobody else. I think that’s the memory that I will have with Rafa,” Wilander concluded. “He’s one of the greatest players of all time, and maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time.”