"It's between Rafael Nadal and his family, not other players" - Fans react to Garbine Muguruza's comments on Spaniard's retirement

Former tennis player Garbine Muguruza has shared her thoughts on Rafael Nadal's retirement. Her comments later sparked numerous reactions from tennis fans.

Nadal has faced a challenging season this year. After missing most of 2023 due to a hip injury, the Spaniard made his return at the Brisbane International, where he reached the quarterfinals. However, his appearances have been sporadic since then.

The 38-year-old struggled during the European clay court swing, with his best result being a fourth-round finish at the Madrid Open. After an early exit at the French Open, he chose to skip both Wimbledon and the US Open, making only one tour-level appearance at the Nordea Open, where he reached the final.

After pulling out of the US Open, Nadal stated that his participation in the 2024 Laver Cup was certain and emphasized he wasn't rushing towards retirement. However, he recently announced his withdrawal from the event, which is set to take place in Berlin.

In a recent interview with Tennis.com, two-time Grand Slam champion, and Nadal's compatriot, Garbine Muguruza, shared that the 38-year-old appears ready for retirement, suggesting he should spend time with his family.

"He’s so ready, his body, his mind, just everything... It’s time to also enjoy his kid! I see him smiling all the time with his baby. I’m like, ‘Why are you on the court still? Go home, take the boat, go in Mallorca.’ I think he gave everything he had,” she said.

Several fans later reacted to Muguruza’s statements on Reddit, with one stating that Nadal’s retirement should be solely his decision and not dictated by public opinion.

"As a fan it is tough to see Nadal struggle to win and be in pain, but i just don’t agree with everyone publicly wishing for him to retire. It is between him and his family, not fans or other players. I think he has earned the right to retire as and when he wishes. I felt similarly with Murray. He played as long as his body allowed for it because he loved the sport, and it was disrespectful to ask Why are you on the court still," one fan wrote.

"I feel like if my competition was telling me to retire I’d push even harder not to.. it’s a weird mental game," another wrote.

"I think the majority of people believed he was going to finish at the Laver Cup, but now, who knows," another fan opined.

A fan agreed with Muguruza, emphasizing that Nadal has given his all to the game and should now focus on himself and his family.

"As sad as it is to see him go, I completely agree with her. He’s given literally everything and it’s time to look after himself and his family," one fan wrote.

Here are a few more reactions from the fans:

"Goat. Nobody comes close to peak Nadal. Nobody," a fan commented.

"Wild for Murguruza, who was never been in love with the tennis lifestyle, to make these comments," another fan opined.

---

"Let me take my time to make my decision": Rafael Nadal on his retirement

2024 French Open - Day 2 (Source: Getty)

A few days ago, Rafael Nadal was featured as a guest on El Hormiguero, a Spanish talk show where he revealed that he still hasn't taken a call on his retirement.

"Let me take my time to make my decision. When I have made up my mind, I will say so," Nadal said (via Rafael Nadal fans.com).

The 38-year-old acknowledged that he hasn't met his goals for the year but continues to train daily and finds joy in other aspects of life.

"My objectives for the year are over and I haven’t achieved what I would have liked to. I train every day and I enjoy other things in life," he added.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is currently ranked 154th in the ATP rankings, holding a 12-7 win-loss record this season.

Nadal will be replaced by this year's US Open quarterfinalist Grigor Dimitrov, on Team Europe at the Laver Cup. The Bjorn Borg-led team also includes other key players such as Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Casper Ruud.