A stage has ended for me, now I have to analyze what I feel

Carlos Navarro | 31 Jul 2024 | 22.21

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Rafael Nadal leaves the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the satisfaction of having left blood, sweat, and tears on the court, but with the desolation of knowing that none of it was enough to get closer to the medals. The Olympic event was marked in red on the Balearic's calendar and leaves mixed feelings, with historic moments for Spanish tennis thanks to his partnership with Carlos Alcaraz, but with a strange feeling of emptiness after the ovation he received following his fall on Philippe Chatrier. Speaking to RTVE's microphones, Rafa showed a lot of reflection about his near future, stressing the uncertainty he faces in the coming months and aware that the most important stage of his 2024 has come to an end.

🎾RAFA NADAL SPEAKS! #OlympicGames

🗣️"We've done everything we had to do to have options... it wasn't possible."

🗣️"Now, back home to rest, and when I'm sure what my next step is, whether it's with a racket in hand or not, I'll let you know." pic.twitter.com/DYyKUw1Z27

— Tablero Deportivo RNE (@TABLERO_RNE) July 31, 2024

- Immediate feelings after the defeat

"Right now, a stage has ended for me. The stage I had set for myself was until the Olympic Games, and today this stage ends. I need to return home and, after a few days of rest, analyze how I see things objectively. See the desire I have, how I feel things, the inner strength I have to make one decision or another... and I'll make it when I need to. I have total freedom, and I believe that I have strived all my life to make the decision as and when I feel it."

In that sense, I am a rather calm person and I need my time. When it's clear what my next step is, I'll let you know, but right now my next step is to go back home, spend time with my family, and disconnect. It has been exciting months because I returned to play tennis; also tough because I've been through many difficult moments, disappointments, also beautiful moments... now I have to manage everything, analyze it well, and see how I feel."

- Analysis of his performance and the defeat against Krajicek/Ram

"I was not at the level I needed to be to fight for medals in singles. In doubles, we were playing at a very good level, but today we were not accurate. As I said every day, matches go by very quickly, and any detail can change everything. Today we didn't start well, and we weren't able to push the match to the limit. The experience was positive; we did everything we needed to do to give ourselves options, we had a fantastic relationship, we shared a lot off the court, and on the court, we were happy, motivated, excited. It wasn't possible; that's it, today we weren't accurate. For me, there's no need to analyze much more; we weren't good enough. All I have to analyze now is when I have the flight back home (laughs), but I take an experience and memory for a lifetime."

- How these Olympic Games affect his near future as a tennis player

"My future as a professional is influenced by the desire and feeling I have when I have to make the decision. I had set until the Olympic Games as a goal since the year began, and this cycle is over. Now I will return home to disconnect, and when it's clear what my next step is, with a racket in hand or not, I'll let you know."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "Se ha terminado una etapa para mí, ahora tengo que analizar qué siento"

Rafael Nadal