French Open star Rafael Nadal has 14-2 record vs makes thoughts on him retiring clear
A French Open star has shared his thoughts on Rafael Nadal's potential retirement.
French Open star Gael Monfils has urged Rafael Nadal to continue playing tennis, despite the Spaniard’s premature exit from the competition.
The unseeded Nadal suffered a damaging straight sets defeat against Alexander Zverev in the first round at Roland Garros.
In Nadal’s previous 115 matches on the courts in the French capital, he’d lost just three times, with the King of Clay one of, if not the, venue’s greatest-ever competitors.
It wasn’t to be for the soon-to-be 38-year-old, whose post-match comments hinted that it could be his final game in the French Open.
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However, Monfils, who was also in action on Monday, insisted Nadal still has more to give and shouldn’t retire just yet.
Speaking about the 22-time Grand Slam winner, Monfils said: “I don't think there is a single tennis player who hasn't watched Rafa. It's impossible.
“When I say it's important, it's because we all respect him so much, even though we are friends with him. He is the king of clay courts.”
Monfils continued: “He's back, he's playing. It's really important to watch. Times like that, will there be more of them? I was happy because he was hitting a good forehand.
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“He's not over. He was being pushed, but he put a good forehand in."
Despite the dominant defeat, Nadal did show signs of quality during his Monday afternoon outing, as Zverev withstanded several moments of pressure.
Zverev fought back to take the second set to a decider, with his fitness and form paying dividends against a rusty Nadal.
It’s something Monfils recognised though, with the 37-year-old believing Nadal still has the ability to beat most players on the tour.
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He said: “Honestly, Zverev did something incredible in the second [set] mentally speaking.
“Yes, there were two breakpoints at the beginning, and he took it and he did a straight game and he came back at the break.
“It was incredible when he made a mistake on the forehand and hit a passing shot and I said it's going to turn.”
Before later adding: “But the guy is really mentally strong. Well done to him. Because today Rafa, what Rafa showed us today, well, you know, he would beat so many on the draw, so many.”
Monfils fared better than Nadal during his first-round game, with the former world No.6 progressing beyond Thiago Seyboth Wild by virtue of a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.
