Rafael Nadal issues retirement update after one-sided Olympics singles defeat by Novak Djokovic and makes bleak injury admission: ‘I’ve been suffering for two years’

Rafael Nadal has revealed he will make a decision on whether to retire from tennis after the Olympics following his singles defeat by Novak Djokovic.

Nadal fell to a 6-1 6-4 loss to his long-time rival on the Paris clay on Monday in what proved to be a one-sided encounter between the two titans.

It was just a fifth defeat at Roland Garros in 118 matches for Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, but after struggling with persistent injuries and missing out on several tournaments in recent years, he could contemplate quitting the sport.

The 38-year-old remains in doubles contention with Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz but admitted he is coming to the end of an illustrious career at the top.

‘I try to look forward,’ Nadal told reporters. ‘I gave myself until the Olympics. 

Nadal lost to long-time rival Novak Djokovic in a one-sided singles showdown at Roland Garros

‘When this tournament is over, I will take the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desire. It is difficult to recover if I am thinking about whether I retire.

‘For many people it makes little sense, I have been suffering for two years.

‘If I feel that I am not competitive I will make the decision to stop. I just try my best every single day, trying to enjoy a thing that I have been enjoying for so much time.

‘I have been suffering a lot of injuries the last two years. 

‘So if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I’m not ready to keep going I will stop and let you know.’

Reflecting on his loss, Nadal said it was ‘simple’ for him to concede that Djokovic is ‘a much better player’ and insisted he had to ‘accept’ the reality.

After struggling with persistent injuries and missing tournaments, Nadal could quit the sport

Nadal and Djokovic shared a warm moment at the net after their match on the clay in Paris

‘I knew there was a chance it was going to be like that,’ he added. ‘I wasn’t able to play at the level I needed to play at to create problems for him. 

‘And Djokovic didn’t give me anything either, he was inspired and I didn’t have the continuous ball quality to create problems for him.

‘I don’t have the legs of 20 years ago. Without the ball quality and without the legs of 20 years ago, you’re not going to create problems for the best player in history.’

Nadal, nicknamed the King of Clay, had been unable to trouble a red-hot Djokovic.

The two rivals, who have won a staggering 46 Grand Slam singles titles between them, embraced at the net before Djokovic applauded Nadal off the court.