I think it’s so hard for him to let go, he will def do some exhos next year even. U will see him in Netflix slam and mumballa championships. Maybe even Oz open next year haha that would be cool
The guy who interviews Rafa at the beginning of the video is Rafael Plaza, a Spanish journalist, who has had a good relationship with Rafa and his team since at least 2015. He has written a lot of great informative articles about Rafa & his team for the Spanish newspapers (mostly for EL Espanol), and Rafa has praised him. He has also written articles for the ATP website Spanish language section (the ATP staff has translated some articles into English.)
Madrid Masters 1000
April 30, 2024
R4
Rafa received yet another trophy for his museum:
... (I deleted the tweet from the reply. Click on my username to see it.)
A couple more pictures of the Gracias Rafa trophy handed to Rafa by Feliciano Lopez (the tournament director) and CEO of the tournament:
Via Rafa IG
...
Better yet, Djokovic? Roger, I think, is too old and out of practice to compete with a healthy Rafa or Novak.
But he did not say this!
So how is it not his last season then if it's his last Madrid tournament?
And he said goodbye to Barcelona as well. He is done after this year.
I'm 99% sure he said in an interview it was great to play there one last time. I don't want him to retire but the guy has been injured the last 18 months, about to turn 38 and he pretty much has said he is done and wants to say goodbye to his favorite tournaments. Barring some sort of miracle I don't see him continuing after this year.
That is my impression as well. But I only understand his statements in English, and he's said far more in Spanish.
He's only been injured because he played hardcourt and grass.
He's not playing the french open 2-3 more times let alone winning it 2-3 more times.
That would be crispy and epic AF
:
Rafa i think may well retire in Paris holding his trophy. He is playing well enough already to be competitive there, remember Madrid has always been harder for him.
You should have put this on General Discussion Board for the LOL's at the usual suspect responses.
But Djoker's fans would report the thread for fan wars and it would be deleted.
I would be very surprised if he didn't. He got what he wanted from both Barcelona and Madrid - playing competitive matches, and not getting injured. Even if one believes he played Barca and Madrid to just say good-bye, he at least would play Rome for the same reason. But, I think he's in better shape now than a month ago, so greater competency will be there.
You know what? I’m not bothered whether he wins anything this year or not. He has an incredible CV in tennis and nothing can take that away. I’m just rooting for him to be able to play and stay healthy. He got to R4 in Madrid, arguably his weaker venue on clay and he looked so happy to have played himself into good enough form to do so and he didn't get trounced by a freak serve bot in Lehecka, he gave a good account of himself considering all the circumstance. Vamos Rafa!
rest assured, barring physical fitness issues, even today's nadal can stroll to QF and reach semis of RG. He is just too good here. Only issue is the draw. He can theoretically meet Sinner in R1.You know what? I’m not bothered whether he wins anything this year or not. He has an incredible CV in tennis and nothing can take that away. I’m just rooting for him to be able to play and stay healthy. He got to R4 in Madrid, arguably his weaker venue on clay and he looked so happy to have played himself into good enough form to do so and he didn't get trounced by a freak serve bot in Lehecka, he gave a good account of himself considering all the circumstance. Vamos Rafa!
I just want to enjoy seeing him play the rest of this year in the same vein and hopefully that will reap rewards. I'm more than happy to be able to see this legend of the game play out his final year when so many others haven’t been able to do so.
If he can end up in 2022 form and lift a trophy again, great. If not, then I can live with that. Let’s just watch him bow out doing what he loves and with all the credit he so deserves
Rafa has other plans. He said in his interview with Movistar (a Spanish TV): "I have never said that my career would end in Paris [at the French Open]."
