Rafael Nadal’s final Olympic campaign ended in a devastating defeat in the men’s doubles quarter-finals alongside Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has shed light on his intention to disconnect from his family before deciding on his retirement.

Rafael Nadal (Source: Getty)

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

Rafael Nadal bade a fond farewell to the passionate crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier after what could be his final appearance at Roland Garros. However, the former world number one refrained from confirming any plans for his retirement.

Speaking to the media after the defeat, the 38-year-old revealed that he will announce his plans after determining his next step. However, he stressed that his immediate plan of action is to take time to relax with his family after his “tough” but “beautiful” return to tennis.

Rafael Nadal plans to

“In that sense, I’m a pretty calm person and I need my time. When I know what my next step is, I’ll let you know, but for 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’m back playing tennis; they’ve also been tough, because I’ve been through a lot of difficult moments, disappointments, and also beautiful moments… now I have to handle everything, analyze 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” from his loved ones before deciding on his future.

“My future as a professional is affected by the desire and the feeling I have when I have to make the decision. I had set the Olympic Games as a goal since the beginning of the year and this cycle is over. Now I will go back home, to disconnect, and when I have decided what my next step is, whether with a racket in hand or without it, I will let you know,” she said.

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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, the strength or the motivation to continue, I’ll hang up my racket,” he said.

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

“I need to go home and, after a few days of rest, analyze 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,” she 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,” she added.

Although the 38-year-old’s plans remain uncertain, he is set 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 on the entry list for the US Open, scheduled for August 26-September 8, but has not yet made a final decision regarding his participation.