Rafael Nadal has divulged he has not yet congratulated Novak Djokovic on winning his 24th GS title “out of pure ignorance”, but committed he will do so.
The Spaniard also claimed that he doesn’t have “many friends” left on the tour as he belongs to “another generation”, but admitted that he still maintains occasional contact with his former rival Roger Federer. Out of action since sustaining a hip injury in R2 loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the AO in January, Nadal currently sits on sidelines and is recovering from the injury that hampered his game in the twilight of his career.
The 22-time major winner underwent a hip surgery in June and after initially expected to be out for only 6 to 8 weeks, he missed the complete clay, grass and hardcourt swings. The Mallorcan’s eternal rival Novak Djokovic overcame Daniil Medvedev in the final of 2023 US Open earlier this month to earn his 3rd major of the calendar.
During a comprehensive interview with Movistar+, the 37-year-old confirmed he is yet to send congratulatory message to the Serbian on his latest triumph and explained what stopped him from doing so.
“The truth is that I haven’t sent any message to Djokovic yet out of pure ignorance. When you win something so important, from experience I know it’s better to take the time to appreciate that message. I’ll send it but I haven’t done it yet,” said the Mallorcan.
The 14-time French Open winner also confirmed that he sends messages of support to countryman Carlos Alcaraz, while revealing that he remains in touch with his Swiss rival and friend Federer.
“Of course, I sent messages to [Carlos] Alcaraz when he won or when he was about to win. The others – on the circuit I don’t have many friends left, I’m from another generation. I talk to Federer every now and then,” revealed Nadal.
Nadal announced his withdrawal from French Open in May in a press conference and outlined that next year would likely be his farewell tour.
“My goal and my ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year that will probably be my last year in the professional tour,” said Spaniard while talking to reporters.
“That is my idea but I can’t say 100 per cent it will be like this, but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me.
“To enjoy being competitive and something that today is not possible. I believe, if I keep going now, I will not be able to make it happen.
“After a couple of years that in terms of results have been positive because I was able to win a couple of grand slams and important tournaments, the real situation is I was not able to enjoy my diary work.
“Since after the pandemic, my body was not able to do the practice or diary work in a good way so I was not able to enjoy the practice and competition because too many problems, too many times having to stop for physical conditions and too many days off not practicing because of too much pain.
“I need to stop for a while. My position is to stop and I don’t know when I can come back to the practice court.
“I will stop for a while, maybe one month, maybe two months, maybe three months. I am a guy who doesn’t like to predict too much the future. I am following what I believe is the right thing to do for my body and my personal happiness.
“I don’t want to say one thing and do the other. It is better to hold the options open and see what is the best calendar possible.
“I would like to play the things that are important for me and of course the Olympic Games is an important competition and one I hope to play. Will it be my last or not? I cannot say.”