Exclusive: 'You're talking about a GOAT' - John McEnroe on Rafael Nadal retirement chat after Australian Open exit

Updated 20/01/2023 at 10:15 GMT

For Eurosport's John McEnroe, tennis fans must appreciate every second of Rafael Nadal while he is still active in his legendary career. Despite his latest heartbreaking injury sustained in his defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in their second-round clash at the Australian Open, McEnroe wants the Spaniard to be able to go out on his own terms as the "GOAT" that he is in the sport.

McEnroe hails Nadal's longevity and explains why he can't be counted out

Eurosport expert John McEnroe has reminded everyone in tennis that they are "talking about a GOAT" when it comes to speculating about Rafael Nadal's potential retirement in the next few years after his unfortunate injury-affected exit from the Australian Open.

The Spaniard was trailing 6-4 5-3 when he suddenly pulled up with his injury. He immediately called on the trainer at the end of McDonald’s service game before leaving the court for a medical timeout. He eventually returned to the court and played out the second set, but the 36-year-old was ultimately not fit enough to force a fourth set. The world No. 65 came through to win the match in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 7-5.

It was a nightmare day for Nadal, who had been hoping to defend his title from last year at Melbourne Park and also extend his record tally of 22 Grand Slam singles titles at the first Grand Slam of the new season.

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McEnroe has said that his hope is for Nadal to be able to go out on his own terms, despite all of his injury struggles, and get the send-off in the sport that his illustrious career so far has already warranted.

“Obviously, this is a guess, and you know, anyone that comments on this is doing the same thing," McEnroe told Eurosport regarding Nadal's injury. "My suspicion would be because hard courts, you know, especially on the hip, would have more of an impact and are harder to bounce back from.

“My hope is he goes out when he wants to go out, not when we want him to go out. You are talking about a GOAT - greatest of all time - type of athlete.

"You saw from Murray that he doesn't want to go out on injury-like terms, you know, he wants to go out on his terms when he's healthy and competing and it's just like, ‘I can look in the mirror and know I have done everything I could and that's enough'.

"Rafa, from what I've heard, wants to keep playing. You know, he loves the competition, he loves the process, and he loves the sport and we love him for that.

"But if the body doesn't hold up and he feels like he can't get to that type of level health-wise that he needs to, to win majors, then I think he'll quit.

"The question is, when is that? So it is as early as the French, it's as late as playing two or three more years.

"It really depends on how the body holds up, and then obviously he's used to doing so well that if the results aren't there for a consistent period of time, I would expect that he would stop playing then.”

'Peak at the French Open' - McEnroe suggests plan for Nadal injury recovery

"I would suspect that he will wait because, if you recall last year when he went to Indian Wells, he got hurt there and then he missed the first part of the clay-court season.

"So I think he would prefer to sort of start with the clay-court season. If I was part of that team, especially if you're not quite sure how the hip is reacting, sort of build up his conditioning and his confidence on his favourite service and then try to peak at the French Open. So that that would be what my guess would be at this present time.

“Obviously, Indian Wells would love to have him, as would anyone, any tournament would. But at this age and after all he's been through with his body, and now with this latest setback, it would surprise me if he played there.