Rafael Nadal: a French Open farewell?

Could this really be it for the King of Clay at Roland Garros? Rafa faces Alexander Zverev in the first round.

Transcript

00:00 It's a big, big chance that's going to be my last Roland-Garros.

00:03 But if I have to tell you it's 100% my last Roland-Garros,

00:08 sorry, but I will not. I cannot predict what's going on.

00:12 He's just a lot stronger.

00:22 Which means that even on bad days,

00:25 even on days when he was physically not as good,

00:27 even on days when he was playing bad,

00:30 he was so strong that he even won those days.

00:33 He was just a lot stronger.

00:53 I think that in a few years I won't be able to believe everything I lived

00:57 with him, both on and off the pitch.

00:59 And for me, he's going to be a great example of this sport.

01:04 I'm part of a generation where he won the tournament 14 times.

01:09 So it's the end of an era.

01:13 But honestly, I was lucky to see these players

01:22 for so long, so strong for so long,

01:25 that it had to stop at some point.

01:27 Will it be here or will it be the next one?

01:29 We don't know.

01:31 But we know for a while that we're getting close to the end.

01:35 Being his last tournament, if it is that in fact,

01:38 is going to be quite an emotional experience for everybody.

01:42 Somewhat like watching Roger when he retired at Lever Cup.

01:47 People will want to be there.

01:49 They'll want to be a part of that last moment.

01:51 I'm not shy to say I'm happy it's not me playing against him first round.

01:55 In my mind, I'm going to play peak Rafael Nadal.

02:01 And that's what I expect him to be.

02:04 I expect him to be at his absolute best.

02:07 I expect him to play the best tennis that he's played in a long time on this court.

02:12 In some way, this place is magical for me.

02:16 If in the bottom of my heart, I don't have any hope to have success here

02:25 and to create a beautiful thing this year,

02:28 I will not be here in front of you guys.

02:30 [MUSIC]

02:33 [MUSIC]

02:36 (upbeat music)