John McEnroe predicts Rafael Nadal will retire either due to an injury or when he reaches the point where he is no longer a top player and a Grand Slam title contender. Nadal, 36, has never had much luck with his health but the last few years have been especially tough.
Last year alone, Nadal battled foot, rib and abdominal injuries. But still, Nadal managed to win two Grand Slams last year Nadal, who will be turning 37 in early June, has been frequently asked about his retirement in recent months and he has been insisting to reporters that he has no retirement date in his mind.
McEnroe on Nadal’s retirement
“You know what? It would be tough to write Rafa off at any point, given that he did so well last year. I didn’t expect him to do that last year. So I continue to be amazed by him. It’s amazing how much hunger he has still.
With all the success that he’s had. The other players should look at him. I used to look at, well, he’s like Jimmy Connors. And I was like, ‘this guy tries harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. I’ve got to try harder’. And if I were playing today, I’d have a look every day at Rafael Nadal and go, ‘You know, I’ve got to try as hard as this guy.
Because I don’t know almost anyone that does’. Obviously, at 36, your body can only take so much; at some point it is going to give out. Will it be this year? I don’t know. Next year? How much longer can he do this at this level? And he doesn’t want to be, you know, 10 in the world or 20.
As soon as he, I think, feels like he can’t win majors. He’s going to stop,” McEnroe told Eurosport. After a not-so-great end to the 2022 season, Nadal kicked off his 2023 season with back-to-back defeats to Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur, respectively.
It will be interesting to see how will Nadal do at the Australian Open and how much he can do at the Grand Slam level this year.
