Why fans should not be concerned too much about Rafael Nadal's recent hints at retirement

Rafael Nadal booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open on Sunday but not before taking the scenic route. The Spaniard needed five sets to dispose of Felix Auger-Aliassime, coming from a set down to prevail 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 over the Canadian.

Speaking at his press conference after the match, the 21-time Grand Slam champion made a couple of interesting remarks, particularly about retirement. When probed about his thoughts on the impending clash against Novak Djokovic on Tuesday, the Mallorcan, completely unprompted, pointed out that he plays every match like it is his "last match" at the tournament.

"Two weeks and a half ago, even if I had good hopes after, positive hopes after Rome, I even don't know if I would be able to be here. So just enjoying the fact that I am here for one more year," Nadal said. "And being honest, every match that I play here, I don't know if gonna be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career, no? That's my situation now."

With the southpaw also referring to his recent injury crisis and touching on how he did not even think he would reach this point, speculation that the World No. 5 is on the last leg of his playing career has filled the airwaves.

The former World No. 1 added that he has no idea what the future looks like for him and that he is merely trying to enjoy things as much as possible in the moment.

"Of course I went through a tough process again with my foot, so I don't know what can happen in the near future with my career," Nadal said. "But that's why I am just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream that is keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros, playing against the World No. 1."

The 35-year-old reiterated the same comments during his post-match interview with the Tennis Channel, making fans even more worried. Nadal has definitely done some uncharacteristic things this season, such as going to the Stade de France to watch the Champions League final the night before his fourth-round clash against Auger-Aliassime.

This is also the first time since 2004 that the Mallorcan did not reach the final of any clay Masters 1000 tournament in the build-up to Roland Garros (discounting 2020 when only Rome was held). With his next match scheduled against defending champion and arch-rival Novak Djokovic, there is a very real possibility that Nadal will finish the year without a clay title to his name.

But as the Spaniard himself has made clear, none of that matters at the moment. For now, the only thing that is certain is the fact that he will take on the Serb for the 59th time in his career. If Nadal wins, he would be two wins away from a record-extending 14th French Open title. If he doesn't, he will decide what to do when the time comes.

Either way, it is too soon for the 35-year-old's fans to panic. The former World No. 1 has always been a realist, not afraid to disclose how he feels about the state of his fitness at any given moment.

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Throughout his unbelievable title run in Melbourne, the 21-time Grand Slam champion took the opportunity to state over and over just how happy he was to be playing once again. The title, in Nadal's opinion, was a by-product of the joy he got from playing tennis after what felt like an eternity.

It is only natural that those thoughts are amplified a thousandfold in Paris. After all, he has won more titles here than at all the other Slams put together. If there was one tournament Nadal would give anything to keep playing, it is the French Open without a doubt.

So, when he says that he has no idea if this is going to be his last match at Roland Garros, it is likely that he means he doesn't care if it is. He has given his everything for so long and he will continue to do so even if he knows he doesn't have to come back tomorrow.

This is the way he has always approached the game, and this is the only way he will ever approach the game. For someone with such an incredible record on the claycourts of Paris, the idea of never stepping foot there again must be as trivial as it is nerve-wracking. But in characteristic fashion, the 35-year-old has embraced the future and chosen to fixate on nothing but the next step.

At some point, that fabled last match in Paris will arrive. But until then, like many stalwarts of the game have learned from facing off against Rafael Nadal, it is not over until the curtains are formally and officially drawn.