Rafa Nadal's stunning backflip after tennis retirement frenzy

Sports Reporter

Thu, 2 June 2022, 7:37 pm·3-min read

Rafa Nadal (pictured) talking during a Roland Garros press conference. — Rafa Nadal (pictured) hinted that he doesn't know when his last match will be in his tennis career, but said he expects to be back next year. (Getty Images)

Rafa Nadal has expressed his interest in returning to the French Open after setting the tennis world alight with concern that it could be his last grand slam in Paris.

The 13-time Roland Garros champion heads into the match against Alexander Zverev with confidence after defeating reigning champion and longtime rival Novak Djokovic in four sets.

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However, one of the talking points heading into the match is whether Nadal will be seen on court again at Roland Garros after this tournament.

Despite having a record 21 grand slam wins under his belt and a chance to add a 22nd in Paris this week, retirement questions are still frequently posed to the 35-year-old.

And Nadal hinted that with his ever-present foot injury, he wasn't 100 per cent sure he would return next year.

"See you in two days (for the semi-final), that’s all I can say," Nadal said after the quarter-final.

Rafa Nadal allays retirement fears before Alexander Zverev clash

However, ahead of his clash against World No.3 Alxeander Zverev, Nadal appeared to allay fears that he was immediately thinking of retiring.

"I am confident and I trust I can return [to Roland-Garros]," Nadal said, according to Eurosport.

“I accept things as they come, I have no intention of making it seem like a farewell.

"We keep working to find a solution to my foot injury. My intention is to return to Roland-Garros next year."

Earlier in the week, Nadal sent the tennis world into a frenzy with his comments about his foot injury.

"I am old enough to not hide things or come here to say a thing that I don't believe," Nadal said after defeating Djokovic.

Rafa Nadal (pictured) celebrates his victory against Novak Djokovic on Court Philippe Chatrier during the singles Quarter Final match at the 2022 French Open. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)"n

"I don't know what can happen. I think, as I said before, I'm going to be playing this tournament because we are doing the things to be ready to play this tournament, but I don't know what's going to happen after here.

"I have what I have in the foot, so if we are not able to find an improvement or small solution to that, then it's becoming super difficult for me. So that's it."

Regardless, Nadal out on a masterclass of power-strokes to push Djokovic back and reign supreme in their 59th clash.

Nadal will now take on Zverev, who also produced his best match on clay in 2022 to defeat Spanish teen prodigy Carlos Alcaraz.

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