"If I don't have the strength, I'll hang up my racket": Rafael Nadal to 'disconnect' with family before making retirement decision after Olympics exit

Rafael Nadal's final Olympic campaign ended in a heartbreaking quarterfinal loss in men's doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has shed light on his intention to disconnect with his family before deciding on his retirement.

Despite his crushing loss to Novak Djokovic in the singles event, Nadal kept his hopes of clinching a second doubles gold alive in Paris. However, the American duo of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek proved too strong for the 38-year-old and Alcaraz, claiming a dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Spanish pair.

Rafael Nadal bid a poignant farewell to the passionate crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier after what could be his final appearance at Roland Garros. However, the former World No. 1 refrained from confirming any plans for his retirement.

Speaking to the media after the loss, the 38-year-old disclosed that he will announce his plans after he determines his next step. Nevertheless, he emphasized that his immediate plan of action is to take the time to relax with his family after his "hard" but "beautiful" return to tennis.

"In that sense, I am a fairly calm person and I need my time. When I know what my next step is, I will let you know, but right now my next step is to go back home, spend time with my family and relax," Nadal said (via Punto de Break).

"These have been exciting months, because I have started playing tennis again; they have also been hard, because I have gone through many difficult moments, disappointments, and also beautiful moments... now I have to manage everything, analyse it well and see how I feel," he added.

With his goal of competing at the Olympics now over, Nadal reiterated his desire to "disconnect" with his loved ones before deciding on his future.

"My future as a professional is affected by the desire and the feeling that I have when I have to make the decision. I had set the Olympics as a goal since the beginning of the year and this cycle has ended. Now I will return home, to disconnect, and when I have decided what my next step is, whether with a racket in my hand or without, I will let you know," he said.

The Spaniard also admitted that if he finds himself lacking the motivation, desire or strength to extend his career, he will retire from the sport.

"If I don't have the desire, strength, or motivation to continue, I will hang up my racket," he said.

Rafael Nadal: "I have total freedom to make the decision how and when I feel it"

Rafael Nadal (Source: Getty)

In the same interview, Rafael Nadal acknowledged the need to evaluate his "inner strength" and enduring desire to compete before arriving at a final decision, emphasizing that he has the "total freedom" to plan his retirement on his own time.

"I need to go home and, after a few days of rest, analyse how I see things in isolation. See how much desire I have, how I feel about things, the inner strength I have to make one decision or another... and I will make it when I have to make it," he said.

"I have total freedom, and I think I have tried hard throughout my life, to make the decision how and when I feel it," he added.

Although the 38-year-old's plans remain uncertain, he is slated to join Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas in representing Team World at the Laver Cup in September.

Nadal is also featured on the entry list for the US Open, scheduled for August 26 to September 8, but he has yet to make a final decision regarding his participation.