Aussie tennis great Todd Woodbridge has made a prediction about how Rafael Nadal will plan for his retirement following his second round loss in the Australian Open, with a curtain call dependent on his form across the clay-court season, culminating at Roland-Garros.
The Spaniard has battled injuries to his feet, elbows, knees and wrists over the past several seasons.
On Wednesday, he took a medical timeout after injuring his hip against Mackenzie McDonald. He battled through the injury, but was eventually knocked out in straight sets.
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Speaking on Nine’s Australian Open coverage, Woodbridge said Nadal was unlikely to openly talk about his pathway to retirement but said there were some key markers that would determine his position.
“I think he won’t say anything. He’ll get to Paris – I think that’s a main thing for him, and we’ll see how he performs,” Woodbridge said.
“If he goes and finds form in the clay court season, he keeps going. But if he falls over there, I don’t think he’ll want to keep playing mediocre like he has for the past few months.”
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Speaking on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily, Mark Petchey said he believed Nadal’s loss to McDonald was his last Australian Open match.
“I don’t want to write him into retirement, but I would be betting on the fact that he may retire at Roland Garros this year,” he said.
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“He has been through so much in the last year, that’s the sense that I have right now.
“I genuinely don’t want to see him hang up his racquets at Roland Garros – I want him to play forever.
“The reality is that he can’t and I just wonder just how long he’ll be happy if he can’t find the kind of form that makes him competitive on these big courts.”
Sam Smith believes it was “miraculous” Nadal even managed to get on the court at the Australian Open following his recent run with injuries.
Smith said Nadal’s refusal to retire from Wednesday’s match – even when clearly in discomfort – is a sign of respect to the game.
“He’s had so many injuries it’s miraculous he even gets to the court these days,” she said.
“What I loved about that was how much respect he has for the game, his opponent, the Australian Open.
“Even his box was shouting at him to stop. I’ve seen that before, and he just won’t. It is extraordinary what he does.”
“What we should do is celebrate how remarkable it is that he is still here.
“We (are) used to players – Roger, Andy Murray and Novak – going way into their 30s and playing at a really high level (but) it’s never really been done … in modern-day tennis.
“To play as long as he has is exceptional.”
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