Nadal's pulling out of Laver Cup fuels retirement murmurs

Berlin, Sep 13: The murmur regarding legend Rafael Nadal's possible retirement from tennis as a player, has popped up again. The reason being his latest decision to pull out of the Laver Cup 2024 in Germany.

After lacklustre performances in his favourite Grand Slam French Open and then Paris Olympics 2024, the Spaniard was expected to play the Laver Cup in Berlin from next week.

But the winner of 22 Grand Slams (Nadal) pulling out from the Laver Cup on Thursday, has once again fuelled the discussion regarding his retirement announcement. 

Earlier, tennis fans round the globe, former players and even his fierce competitors on the court for decades, were waiting with baited breath for his return to action in the French Open 2024.

Though Nadal was back on clay court in French Open 2024, but he appeared to be a pale shadow of the champion player, who lifted the crown at Roland Garros 14 times. 

The Spaniard was off colour in the 2024 Paris Games as well. He did announce his last appearance in French Open and Olympics earlier this year.

With Nadal withdrawing from Laver Cup, the era of his dominance on tennis courts is possibly coming to an end, fear his fans. 

It's a fact that his extra ordinary skills, never ending hunger to win, immense popularity and passion for the game have mesmerised tennis world for years.

With 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal is the second in the list of all time greats of the game. The only player to be ahead of him in terms of Grand Slam wins is his fierce competitor and dear friend from Serbia, Novak  Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam crowns. 

The two tennis greats are followed by the other tennis icon Roger Federer, who won 20 Grand Slams. 

But with Federer already retired and Nadal almost on the verge of quitting the game as a player, only Djokovic will be around of the three greats of the game.

However, a formal announcement from Nadal to retire from tennis as a player is still awaited. Is not it?