The 2024 season is over, then Rafael Nadal will stop playing tennis. He missed the perfect moment to say goodbye – but exceptional athletes of his rank have the right to find a worthy conclusion belatedly.
The good news is that the sun rose over Mallorca and Manacor on Friday as well. At 6.30 a.m. it appeared for the first time on day one after this announcement, which many feared. It is also reassuring to know that the tournament taking place in Rome continued, flags were not flown at half-staff. One thing was different though, Real Madrid, the football beasts, were actually eliminated from the Champions League. But you really can’t blame Rafael Nadal for that. His beloved Los Blancos’ defeat at Manchester City came the night before his press conference, where he announced his shaky resolutions: he, the 14-time French Open winner, did not play in Paris. He will probably pause completely in 2023. 2024? Should be the last season.