"His last great hope" - Rafael Nadal's coach Carlos Moya details how Spaniard reached retirement decision after Olympics loss to Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal’s longtime coach, fellow former World No. 1 Carlos Moya, recently shed light on how the Spaniard’s match against Novak Djokovic at the 2024 Paris Olympics influenced his retirement decision. He also reflected on Nadal’s injury-ridden 2024 campaign.

On Thursday, October 10, Rafael Nadal announced his plan to draw the curtain on his illustrious career by representing Spain at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga (November 19-24). The 38-year-old has played a limited schedule due to unceasing injuries this season. The event will thus mark only his eighth tournament appearance of 2024.

Addressing the Spaniard’s declining physicality and impending retirement during his recent Radioestadio Noche appearance, Carlos Moya said:

"In part it may be a relief after these last two years that have been hard for him."

Nadal, who underwent an arthroscopic hip surgery in 2023, returned to action at this year’s Brisbane International in January. He, however, pulled out of the Australian Open due to a fresh hip injury scare.

"We've always been behind a bit. He gets injured, misses the Australian Open, tries to play Indian Wells and gets injured again," Moya recalled.

Rafael Nadal resumed his campaign during the claycourt season, starting with the Barcelona Open. He then competed at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open before bidding for a record-extending 15th title at the French Open. He crashed out of the Major with a straight-sets opening-round loss to eventual finalist Alexander Zverev.

"And then the clay court season starts, for which he had prepared with few hours of training and with limitations due to injuries," Moya continued. "I think that if he had had a more pleasant draw at Roland-Garros (French Open) we would have seen a necessary change of trend. That didn't happen."

After skipping the grasscourt season, Nadal competed at the ATP 250 in Bastad in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. Here, the 22-time Grand Slam champion achieved his season’s best result, reaching the final. He, however, could not recreate the success at the Olympics.

He was beaten in the second round by his arch-rival, eventual champion Novak Djokovic in their 60th career meeting. In men’s doubles, meanwhile, he and Carlos Alcaraz made it as far as the quarterfinals. Moya remembered it being a decisive moment for the veteran.

"The final point is the Olympic Games, he has a problem the days before and plays against Djokovic in the second round. I think that was his last great hope and that's why he decided that it will be his last," Carlos Moya said.

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Rafael Nadal's coach Carlos Moya: "It has been a tough and difficult year"

The Spaniard pictured with Carlos Moya (R) at the 2024 French Open: Image Source: Getty

Rafael Nadal’s 92nd and final tour-level title came at the 2022 French Open. The Spaniard enjoyed an immensely successful first half that year, clinching his second Australian Open title, reaching the final in Indian Wells, and winning the Melbourne Summer Set and the Mexican Open. However, the latter half of his campaign was marred by injuries.

After his hip injury setback at the 2023 Australian Open, the Spaniard failed to make a complete recovery.

"It has been a tough and difficult year, first for him because he has put a lot into making it a great year but unfortunately his body has not let him do so," coach Carlos Moya said during the aforementioned appearance.

"After the Olympics he takes a few weeks off and I think that's when he realises that this is going to be his last year," he said.

Ahead of his Davis Cup swansong, Rafael Nadal is set to compete at the inaugural Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh (October 16-19), where he will be joined by Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune.