"Feels like this could be the end for Rafael Nadal, Laver Cup could be a celebration" - Andy Roddick on Spaniard's uncertain future
Andy Roddick recently opined that Rafael Nadal's career may be done and dusted, and that the Spaniard's 2024 Laver Cup appearance may eventually turn out to be his final farewell to tennis. Nadal recently featured at the Paris Olympics in both men's singles and doubles, but unfortunately suffered early exits from both events.
The Spaniard has struggled to rediscover his best form following two significant hip injuries, one sustained at the 2023 Australian Open and another at the 2024 Brisbane International. The former World No. 1 has himself admitted repeatedly that as things stand, he is taking things one day at a time.
At the Paris Olympics, the Spaniard won his first-round match in men's singles against Hungary's Martin Fucsovics. However, longtime rival and eventual gold medal winner Novak Djokovic made short work of him in the next round.
In men's doubles, the 38-year-old had paired up with Carlos Alcaraz, but the much-hyped duo was ousted in the quarterfinals by eventual silver medalists from the USA, Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.
The former World No. 1 is yet to confirm his US Open participation, even though by his own admission, the chances of him turning up at Flushing Meadows look bleak. However, he is set to feature at the 2024 Laver Cup for Team Europe.
Recently, Nadal's former rival Andy Roddick assessed the Spaniard's uncertain situation on an episode of the Served With Andy Roddick podcast. The 2003 US Open champion said that it's unlikely for Nadal to mount another challenge for the French Open next year, but refused to completely rule out the possibility.
"I find it hard to believe that he's going to ramp up and try and make another run at the French Open, but I've been wrong about him before and any analyst who has an opinion, we're just guessing. We don't know, we aren't part of his inner circle," Roddick said (15:50).
The 41-year-old went on to say that Nadal probably won't play at ATP 250 events similar to Bastad anymore. The Spaniard played at Bastad this year to prepare for the Olympics and reached the final as well, before eventually losing to Portugal's Nuno Borges. Roddick concluded by suggesting that the 22-time Major winner's career is likely over and the 2024 Laver Cup would be a "celebration" of his stellar career.
"I certainly don't tick like the greatest players of all time. Can't understand it, but I don't know if he wants to be competing for titles at Bastad. I don't know if that's his lane. We will see. We're all better when he's around. Hopefully we see him in big finals again. I don't know. It feels like this could be the end. Laver Cup could be a celebration," Roddick added.
Rafael Nadal lashed out at media for incessantly questioning him over his retirement following Paris Olympics loss to Novak Djokovic
Nadal has had to face constant questions surrounding his retirement this year, and it seemed as if he had run out of patience following his abject loss to Djokovic at the Paris Games. In an interaction with reporters, the former World No. 1 criticized the incessant questioning, and said that he needs time to decide on his future.
"I can't be analyzing every day whether or not it can be my last match. It seems that you want to retire me every day, give me a little more time," Nadal said.
At the 2024 Laver Cup, Nadal will team up with Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud, as Team Europe looks to wrestle back the title from the clutches of Team World, which has won the tournament's last two editions. The 2024 Laver Cup is set to take place in Berlin from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22.