John McEnroe wades in to Rafael Nadal retirement debate - 'Your body can only take so much'
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Updated 15/01/2023 at 08:27 GMT
Alexander Zverev raised eyebrows when he suggested that Rafael Nadal might retire from the sport in 2023, something the 36-year-old was quick to dismiss. However, the tennis world has started to speculate and John McEnroe has offered his opinion on how long the Spaniard will continue. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.
'Sadly retiring!' - Zverev predicts Nadal to step away after French Open in 2023 predictions
With speculative talk of Rafael Nadal possibly retiring from tennis, John McEnroe has made his prediction as to when the 22-time Grand Slam winner will hang up his racket.
Ahead of the Australian Open, Alexander Zverev caused something of a stir as he suggested the Spanish superstar might bow out after this year’s French Open, something Nadal was quick to deny.
Nadal won his second title in Melbourne last year, taking him to a record 21 Grand Slams ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on 20 at the time.
He extended this with a jaw-dropping 14th title in Paris, although Djokovic was able to get back within one slam of the Spaniard by winning at Wimbledon.
Following Federer’s retirement, Nadal and the Serb continue to jockey for tennis supremacy although both men look to be approaching the twilight of remarkable careers.
Asked when he thought Nadal would call time on his playing days, McEnroe suggested that it would have to come down to a physical issue, or when he realises he can no longer compete at the top of the game.
McEnroe said: “You know what? It would be tough to write Rafa off at any point, given that he did so well last year. I didn't expect him to do that last year. So I continue to be amazed by him.
“It's amazing how much hunger he has still. With all the success that he's had. The other players should look at him. I used to look at, well, he's like Jimmy Connors. And I was like, ‘this guy tries harder than anyone I've ever seen. I've got to try harder’.
“And if I were playing today, I'd have a look every day at Rafeal Nadal and go, ‘You know, I've got to try as hard as this guy. Because I don't know almost anyone that does’.
“Obviously, at 36, your body can only take so much; at some point it is going to give out. Will it be this year? I don't know. Next year?
“How much longer can he do this at this level? And he doesn't want to be, you know, 10 in the world or 20.
“As soon as he, I think, feels like he can't win majors. He's going to stop.”
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'Sadly retiring!' - Zverev predicts Nadal to step away after French Open in 2023 predictions
McEnroe added that he thinks Nadal currently has the hunger to keep going for the foreseeable future and would welcome him remaining in the game as long as he would be prepared to play.
“I'm amazed that he's still as hungry as he is," McEnroe said. "If his health isn't right, I would say that that would be the right thing [to retire].
“But you know, I also hear that he wants to keep playing, you know, another two, three, four years.
“Obviously Rafa is incredible for the game. What he's done is crazy. I would guess that it's just gonna be a health thing. If he doesn't feel like he can go at it. But as long as he does, he seems like he's still got that hunger.”
Nadal starts his Australian Open title defence against Britain's Jack Draper.
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