Very painful and sadCarlos Alcaraz reacts to Rafael Nadal pulling out of French Open 2023

By India Today Sports DeskWorld No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz echoed the sentiments of millions of Rafael Nadal fans, saying it was a sad day for tennis after the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced his withdrawal from French Open. Nadal, in a press conference in Mallorca, confirmed he would pull out of French Open du to a persistent hip injury that has kept him out of action for close to 4 months.

In a series of revelations on Thursday, Rafael Nadal also said he would probably retire from professional tennis in 2024 and that he was going to take an extended break in 2023, hinting he might miss Wimbledon and US Open as well.

Nadal had not missed a single French Open campaign since winning his maiden title at the clay-court Grand Slam in 2005 as a teenager. The 36-year-old went on to win as many as 14 Roland Garros titles.

“Good luck Rafael! Very painful and sad for everyone that you can’t be at Roland Garros or play more this year, but I hope that 2024 will be a great season for you and that you can say goodbye like the great champion you are!” Alcaraz said.

Nadal said he wants to do the right thing for his body and personal happiness, highlighting how a series of injuries over the years has forced him to contemplate retirement.

“I am just doing what I think is the right thing to do for my body and my personal happiness. My goal and my ambition is to stop and give myself an opportunity next year when it could be a last year,” Nadal said.

Nadal said he would want to say proper farewells to the tournaments he loves and added he wants to be competitive.

“I really believe if I go today I will not be able to make that happen,” he said.

Nadal was asked if he would hang up his boots at the Roland Garros next year and the Spaniard responded by saying he was not sure of it. Nadal also said he might look at playing the Paris Olympics next year.

Nadal became the first man to win more than 20 Grand Slam titles in men’s singles when he won the Australian Open in 2022. He went to 22 by winning the French Open last year.

Novak Djokovic caught up with Rafael Nadal, winning the Wimbledon last year and returning to winning ways at Australian Open earlier this year.