Rafael Nadal set for enormous rankings drop as 21-year low anticipated
Rafael Nadal may very well be poised to tumble down the ATP rankings to his lowest place in over twenty years after withdrawing from this month’s French Open and saying that he’s planning to retire on the finish of 2024. The 36-year-old has been battling a long-term hip damage since crashing out of the Australian Open within the second spherical and hoped to return in time to compete at Roland Garros, though it has since develop into obvious that he’s not but able to get again on the courtroom.
Nadal is anticipated to take round 4 months away from the apply courts as a way to relaxation and get better, that means that he will even miss Wimbledon this summer time and probably the US Open as properly. He is plotting a return to the ATP Tour in some unspecified time in the future earlier than the tip of this 12 months, though the potential of any additional setbacks would danger seeing him plummet to his lowest rating in 21 years.
The Spaniard, who has not received a Grand Slam title since his French Open triumph final 12 months, could have simply 45 rating factors to his title if he doesn’t play once more earlier than the 12 months attracts to an in depth. This would put him exterior the world’s prime 600 and there may be each likelihood that he may very well be pushed down even additional by the tip of 2023, which might mark his lowest place since early 2002.
Nadal is at the moment ranked 14th after dropping exterior the highest 10 in March following his early Australian Open exit and appears set to maintain tumbling down the order on account of his damage struggles between now and the tip of this 12 months. It stays to be seen whether or not he’ll find yourself making his return in time to play on the US Open in August, with the probability of his presence on the match set to depend upon how properly he recovers from his newest damage blow.
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He has already insisted that he’s not planning to remain on the ATP tour past the tip of the 2024 marketing campaign, with the clay-court veteran revealing earlier this week that he’s beginning to consider life away from tennis after seeing long-time rival Roger Federer name time on his profession final winter.
“Too many days I have been stopping with too much pain,” Nadal advised reporters at a press convention. “I don’t know when I will come back to the practice court, maybe two months, three, four. I am following my personal feelings for my body and personal happiness. My goal is to try to enjoy next year, which will probably be my last.”
The news of Nadal’s withdrawal from the French Open led a lot of tennis’ main figures to ship him their finest needs in his restoration, together with Australian legend Rod Laver who delivered his instant response to the announcement by sending a heartfelt message to the Spanish icon on Twitter.
“You will be missed at Roland Garros this year, the King of Clay always,” wrote Laver. “Your outstanding physical power, fighting spirit and dedication to tennis is unrivalled in the modern era. Rest up, mate. I look forward to seeing you again, on court or off.”