Nadal gives more details on French TV : it’s possible he won’t be at Roland-Garros again, but he’ll do his best to come back

There will be no out-of-the-ordinary public statement from the 36-year-old…at least, not today

Rafael Nadal on France Televisions, Roland-Garros 2022 © France TV / Tennis Majors

June 5, 2022

Rafael Nadal has given more insight into the pain he suffers with his chronic foot injury – but continued to suggest he intends to play Roland-Garros next year.

Asked on France Television by their hosts as well as guest Justine Henin if he would be able to play the tournament next year, he laughed: “These questions, I ask them to myself also. I’d like to give a clearer answer but really, I don’t know. What’s clear is that I’d would be delighted to be back several years in the future but I have a problem on the foot that doesn’t allow me to practise as I would like considering my goals.

“Not being able to be back in the future is a possible scenario, but we will try to find a solution after the tournament, if there is any option. In my daily life, it’s more and more difficult to cope with the pain considering the way I play. I will do all that I can do to play here again.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during his semi-final match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

“People who live with me see that I work hard and sometimes I can’t play more than four hours, that’s the reality. Until now I could deal with that in the tournament.

“I’m facing a player in-form [in Casper Ruud]. No doubt the final will be tough. I hope I can win.

“If i could, I would be back [at Roland-Garros] every year in my life – obviously that is not possible.”

Nadal: I’m not going for the Grand Slam

Some had suggested that if Nadal won Roland-Garros he might be tempted to play Wimbledon and give the year Grand Slam a shot, but he rejected that.

“No, no, no. The beginning of 2022 was incredible, the Australian Open was above all expectations, this is a year where unexpected things happen, preparation was minimal. I’ll try to enjoy another final here, because at one point, I thought I could never play another one. We’ll talk about the future after that.”

Publicist: ‘Completely false’

Nadal’s long-standing publicist had earlier denied that his client is intending to give a second press conference after today’s Roland-Garros final.

Benito Perez-Barbadillo wrote on Twitter: “The information that appeared in some media about the request for a second Rafael Nadal press conference is completely false.”

The reports had given some observers the idea that the Spaniard might be intending to announce his intention to retire from tennis after the end of the tournament.