Rafael Nadal Makes Major Retirement Announcement After Olympic Loss to Novak Djokovic

Nadal was eliminated from the 2024 Olympics men’s singles in the second round after losing to his long-time rival, Novak Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal announced that he will decide on his future “after the Olympics” following a straight-sets defeat to long-time rival Novak Djokovic at the Paris Games on Sunday. The 22-time Grand Slam winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist put up a strong fight in the second set, recovering from a 4-0 deficit to level at 4-4. However, Nadal ultimately lost the match 6-1, 6-4, marking his 60th career meeting with Djokovic. After the match, Nadal stated, “When this tournament is over, I will take the necessary decisions based on my feelings and sensations.”

Novak Djokovic triumphed over Rafael Nadal in what might be the final chapter of their legendary tennis rivalry at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus aims for a second gold in the pool. Under the clear Paris skies, the most sought-after event was the clash between two tennis greats at Roland Garros.

Nadal, known as the “King of Clay,” typically holds an advantage over Djokovic in Paris. However, at 38 years old and dealing with injury concerns, Nadal had acknowledged he might struggle to compete at his best. This concern was evident as Djokovic dominated the first set with a 6-1 win.

In the second set, Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, showed flashes of his former brilliance. Cheered on by a packed crowd, he came back from 4-0 down to tie at 4-4, breaking Djokovic’s serve twice. However, Djokovic found an extra gear to secure a 6-1, 6-4 victory. The two legends shared a warm embrace at the net, with Nadal waving to the supportive Roland Garros crowd.

Now ranked 161 in the world, Nadal hinted at his uncertain future, saying he would make decisions post-Games “based on my feelings,” and lamented that he no longer had “the legs of 20 years ago.” Djokovic reflected on their long-standing rivalry, remarking, “I never thought back in 2006 that we’d still be playing each other almost 20 years later,” and expressed relief at winning the match.