French Open 2022 - 'He is sounding weary' - Chris Evert concerned after Rafael Nadal raises prospect of retirement

ByAlex Livie

Published 29/05/2022 at 22:50 GMT

Rafael Nadal's quest for a 14th French Open title remains on track, but he had to dig extremely deep to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets at Roland-Garros on Sunday. Next up is a clash with Novak Djokovic, but he has raised the prospect of retirement. Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.

Chris Evert feels Rafael Nadal’s career is drawing to a close after the Spaniard raised the prospect of retirement in his press conference following his win over Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Nadal went to the well once again, as he battled superbly to beat his Canadian opponent to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open.

It was a performance that once again showed the fire still burns within, but came on the back of an interrupted preparation for Roland-Garros on account of a chronic foot problem.

Roland-Garros

'The toughest question' – Ruud asked to pick between tennis and golf stardom

07/06/2023 at 11:39

The win set up another blockbuster clash with Novak Djokovic, but Nadal talked about retirement in his press conference on Sunday.

“I am in the quarter finals of Roland-Garros,” Nadal said. “I am just enjoying the fact I am here for one more year.

“Being honest, every match that I play here I do not know if it will be the last match here in Roland-Garros in my tennis career. That is my situation now.

“I went through a tough process again with my foot. I do not know what will happen in the near future with my career, so I am just trying to enjoy and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream.

“I hope to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible and then let’s see.”

• 'I hope I can get a seat' - Wilander counting down the hours to Djokovic v Nadal clash
• 'It is incredible' - Wilander stunned by Nadal's problem-solving abilities

Nadal’s comments raised eyebrows in the Eurosport studio, and Evert felt it sounded like he was preparing for the end of his career.

“He is sounding weary,” Evert said. “There is so much more that comes with being a professional tennis player than playing a match, but he sounded tired.

“The respect I have for him because he is 35 years old and he can keep getting psyched up every single day for these matches.”

Evert, an 18-time major winner, added: “I started burning out in my early 30s. When I woke up in the morning I didn’t have anything in me, so I don’t know where he gets this passion and fire in his belly from.

“I am sure with the injury, I don’t want to say he is falling apart, but you get a little more affected by the playing and training.

“It is going to happen, whether it is next year, two years, three years. I would not give him more than two or three years to play tennis.”

French Open 2022 Highlights: Nadal batles back in epic to set up Djokovic clash

- - -

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.

Roland-Garros

'Our situations are different' - Murray on Nadal playing through pain to win French Open

10/06/2022 at 10:25

Roland-Garros

‘A miracle for any normal person’ – Nadal’s injury defiance ‘spectacular’, says doctor

09/06/2022 at 15:27

Roland-Garros

Nadal on crutches as he heads home to recover from foot treatment

08/06/2022 at 13:57