Nadal hasn't really said goodbye to the French Open yet: "At the last minute, I didn't want to".

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Elio Valotto

le 16/06/2024 à 12h26

2 min to read

Jeux Olympiques Nadal Roland Garros

A few weeks ago, Rafael Nadal played his last match at the French Open. Despite playing a very solid match, the Spaniard lost to Alexander Zverev in the first round of the French Open (6-3, 7-6, 6-3).

Following the match, the tournament organizers, and in particular tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, had planned a tribute ceremony in honor of the Spanish legend. However, at the last minute, 'Rafa' disrupted the tournament's plans, asking Mauresmo not to hold the ceremony.

As he prepares for the Olympic Games, where he will be vying for an Olympic medal, Nadal spoke to L'Équipe about the moment: "The tournament had offered me a yes (tribute ceremony). Amélie (Mauresmo) discussed it with my team. At first, I said: 'OK, let's go! But, at the last minute, I didn't want it, that's the truth. I understand that Roland Garros wants to pay tribute to me because of what I've achieved and, given what the tournament means to me, of course it would have been great.

But it would have hurt me to announce that this was the last time I'd play in the tournament, knowing that I didn't have the opportunity to prepare as I would have liked. There's nothing to stop me waiting another year. If the tribute takes place and I'm retired, I'll go as a retiree. And if I'm still playing, I'll be there.

I preferred not to live with the idea that they had to pay tribute to me, because it was practically forcing me to stop playing here and I wasn't ready for that at the time."