Iconic Tennis star Rafael Nadal will miss the French Open for the first time in 19 years after an injury, he announced on Thursday. He also announced that he is planning to retire after the 2024 season.
Nadal said: "I didn't make the decision, my body made the decision. To play Roland Garros is impossible."
He added: "Next year will probably be my last year, that is my idea. If I keep going now I won't be able to make it happen."
Nadal won 70 other ATP titles and spent 209 weeks as world number one.
He was also known as the "King of Clay, Nadal won 112 of his 115 matches at the French Open.
Nadal said: "I'm still in the position where I am not able to feel ready to compete at the standards I need to be to play at Roland Garros.
"I am not the guy who will be at Roland Garros just try to be there and in a position where I don't like to be."
Nadal also expressed that he needs to stop playing for the rest of 2023 to give his body a chance to heal for a well-planned farewell tour in 2024.
Follow the latest news on Google News
