Nadal’s ongoing harm woes got here to a head on Thursday when he introduced his withdrawal from the upcoming French Open, the place he's a 14-time champion. During a press conference at his academy in Mallorca, he additionally stated he would cease enjoying tennis for a number of months with the view of enjoying pain-free in 2024 - what he believes can be his farewell season.

“My idea is to try and say goodbye to all the important tournaments for me in my career,” Nadal stated, earlier than admitting that he hoped to compete on the Olympics. And Henman - a Eurosport pundit for the upcoming French Open - has given his verdict on the Spaniard’s hopes of constructing it to Paris 2024.

“I mean that would be pretty special,” he stated, talking solely to Express Sport. But the retired British professional admitted that Nadal would wish to stay disciplined together with his well being to make sure that he might carry out on the Olympics in 14 months’ time.

He continued: “I’m sure Rafa has got his own hopes and expectations and goals but none of those are attainable if you’re not healthy and he’s always been so good with that and disciplined that he plays when he’s fit and he listens to his body.

“He’s got a great team around him and as I said, your health is your wealth and he’s struggled and he’s got to be 100 per cent fit.” Henman’s phrases come as Nadal himself was requested whether or not the Olympics might find yourself being the final event of his profession whereas it was staged on the website of the French Open.

"I cannot say it now because it is difficult to predict what will happen, how my body will be,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion responded. “I don't want to say one thing and do the other. It is better to leave the options open and see what is possible.”

But Nadal made it clear that the Olympics was one of the tournaments he was eyeing for his lap of honour, adding: “I want to compete in the competitions that are important to me and the Olympic Games is one of the competitions that I would like to be in. I hope to be there. Whether it will be my last tournament or not, I can't say right now.”

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