Rafael Nadal has once again become a topic of conversation over the past few days. The manacorí ended up withdrawing from the Laver Cup 2024 to the surprise of many, erasing the only official event from his calendar that was supposed to participate in. All of this has once again sparked some debate and controversy: Is retirement closer than ever? Will we see Nadal at any event for the remainder of the year? To what extent is the Balearic still seen as competitive after the defeats suffered in previous tournaments?
There are few players who can compare their situation with the one Rafa is going through. The waiting time, the uncertainty, the lack of news, not being sure when to leave tennis, pondering while the world waits for news... Garbiñe Muguruza went through something similar: it took her months and months to announce her retirement and when she did, she closed the chapter of tennis forever. No half measures. The media attention to know what's happening? She knows it all too well... and can imagine what Rafa is going through, which gives her the freedom to share her perspective on this issue, in words collected by TENNIS.
"Rafa is completely ready (for his retirement). His body, his mind, absolutely everything... it's also time for him to enjoy with his son! I see him smiling all the time whenever he's with him. I think: 'Why are you still on the court? Go home, get the boat, enjoy in Mallorca.' I believe he has given everything he had to give". The statements may seem somewhat harsh, but Garbiñe relates this situation to the process she herself went through: "I was also ready. Life was sending me signals, especially on a physical level. I was just excited to live the next chapter".
Muguruza had the opportunity to coincide with Rafa not too long ago, at the Laureus gala, an organization of which she is an ambassador. However, she didn't want to delve too much into the mind of the manacorí, and received a response similar to what the public has received in recent months: "It's hard to know Rafa, he's quite shy. We talked a bit at the Laureus gala in Madrid, at the beginning of the year. He said, 'This is my last year,' but didn't comment much more. I didn't want to ask him such personal questions".
LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT, BY GARBIÑE MUGURUZA
Since deciding to hang up the racket, Muguruza has received many questions about the new stage of her life. Completely ruling out the possibility of playing tennis again, the Spanish-Venezuelan has appeared in places like Monterrey or New York, supporting various tournaments and participating in exhibitions of retired tennis players. "I thought I would spend more time at home, but it turns out I'm traveling a lot: albeit in a comfortable way. I'm not stressed, not carrying 55 rackets, not nervous. I'm happy to travel in this way. I'm doing everything I couldn't do before, spending time with my loved ones. Now I feel that more personal side; before, everything was professional", confessed a very happy Muguruza.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Muguruza, sobre Nadal y una posible retirada: "Está más que listo"

