ITF will encourage Rafael Nadal to compete at 2024 Paris Games

BENGALURU, India — Uncertainty surrounds the 2024 campaign of the recovering Rafael Nadal. However, David Haggerty, the chief of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), reassures that the global tennis body will make every effort to encourage him to participate in the Paris Olympic Games, according to an exclusive source from Reuters.

The 37-year-old former world No. 1 has been out of action since sustaining a hip flexor injury during a second-round defeat against Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in mid-January. Currently, Nadal has not disclosed his plans for next season after undergoing surgery.

In previous statements, Nadal had mentioned his intention to retire following the 2024 season and his desire to compete in the Paris Games, which will be hosted at Roland Garros. Notably, Nadal has achieved remarkable success at this venue, winning 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

The Spanish tennis star claimed the Olympic singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games and secured the doubles gold eight years later in Rio.

In a recent video call interview with Reuters, Haggerty expressed his optimism about Nadal’s potential participation, stating, “We acknowledge Nadal’s extraordinary achievements and multiple medal wins, making it a potentially legendary finale for his career. Encouraging him to play would be fantastic. Ultimately, the decision lies with him.”

Haggerty further added, “We will provide him with all the support necessary because I strongly believe it would be a magnificent event for Nadal to compete at Roland Garros, a venue where he has already experienced tremendous success.”

Earlier this month, Australian Open tournament director, Craig Tiley, confirmed Nadal’s return to Grand Slam tennis at Melbourne Park. However, Nadal’s representative has not specified a timeline for his comeback.

Meanwhile, Nadal has been diligently working on his recovery, regularly sharing training videos on social media platforms.

Haggerty prioritized Nadal’s health and desire to compete at his desired level, stating, “Above all, he needs to be in good health and confident in his ability to compete at the highest level. That’s the kind of competitor Nadal is, always striving to be at the top of his game. We extend our best wishes to him.”