Rafa Nadal turns 38 this Thursday in an even more special birthday if possible compared to last year. At that time, Nadal celebrated his 37th birthday after announcing that he would not compete at Roland Garros that year due to the iliac psoas injury he suffered at the 2023 Australian Open and hinting that 2024 could be the last season of his career. career.
This Monday Nadal will blow out the 38 candles on the cake away from Roland Garros after losing in the first round against Alexander Zverev, one of the toughest rivals that the Spaniard could face in the first round as he was not seeded, but it will do so with new hopes and a very different spirit than last year.
A Nadal who at the Mutua Madrid Open already showed that he is capable of facing, and winning, several of today’s top tennis players and who at Roland Garros, despite the defeat against Zverev, who arrived in Paris in great shape, showed that he is close to reaching his best level after the ordeal of the last year due to injuries.
Nadal’s good feelings at Roland Garros give hope to the world of tennis and also to the fans, since the Spaniard left the door open to return to the Parisian tournament next year, asking the organization not to pay him any type of tribute.
For now, Nadal’s next plans After turning 38, they return to Paris to the Roland Garros courts to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. where Nadal will try to find a new medal after winning gold in singles in Beijing 2008 and the doubles with Marc López in Rio 2016.
Nadal’s plans also include competing again in the Laver Cup with the European team after not being able to attend last year and after participating in the 2022 edition in that epic doubles when Roger Federer retiredand also compete once again in the Davis Cup, where Nadal would seek his sixth Salad Bowl after winning the title with Spain in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019. A calendar that, if completed, would be one of the perfect gifts for Nadal for his 38th birthday.
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