Nadal: “Rafael Nadal will always be a hunted man”

Boris Becker recently discussed Rafael Nadal’s potential return in 2024, highlighting the challenges he may face from the younger generation.

Rafael Nadal’s 2023 season came to an unexpected end at the Australian Open due to a hip injury sustained during his second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix the issue and is expected to make a comeback next year.

Earlier this year, Nadal had mentioned that 2024 might be his last year on the ATP tour. He stated:

“2024 is probably going to be my last year on the professional Tour. My motivation is to try and enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important to me.”

In light of this, Boris Becker, a seven-time Major winner, expressed in a Eurosport column that Nadal’s return in 2024 is “good news.” He also predicted that the Spaniard will face tough competition from the younger players on the tour.

“First of all, it’s good news that he wants to play and is back on the training field. However, it will be a challenging journey. The younger players are hungry and won’t give him any free passes. He will always be a target,” Becker told Eurosport.

“A player like Rafael Nadal has to retire on the court” – Boris Becker

During the discussion, Boris Becker also emphasized the importance of Nadal receiving a proper farewell from fans on the court.

“Rafa is one of the greatest players of all time, and someone of his caliber should retire on the court, not due to an injury. His family and fans need to support him during this phase,” added Becker.

He further mentioned that despite being in the twilight of his career, Nadal still has the ability to win major tournaments. Becker said:

“Nadal should return to the court and perform at a high level. In my opinion, he can still win big tournaments.”

In a recent update, Uncle Toni, Nadal’s coach, expressed optimism about his nephew’s potential comeback at the Australian Open in 2024.

“Rafa is recovering well. If everything goes smoothly, he intends to participate in the 2024 Australian Open,” shared the veteran coach with El Desmarque a few weeks ago.