Jo Wilfried Tsonga praised Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard received an emotional farewell after exiting the 2024 Madrid Open. Tsonga, a former French tennis player who retired in 2022 with 18 ATP singles titles, had faced Nadal 14 times over his 15-year career. Through an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, Tsonga expressed his respect for Nadal.
Nadal, a five-time Madrid Open winner, played Jiri Lehecka in the tournament’s round of 16, defeating Darwin Blanch, Alex de Minaur, and Pedro Cachin to get there. However, the Czech Republic’s Lehecka won in straight sets, marking Nadal’s final appearance in Madrid. Banners displaying Nadal’s five victories were unfurled, and an emotional Nadal thanked the crowd for their support as he took his leave.
Jo Wilfried Tsonga suggested that Rafael Nadal now plays to prove to himself that he can retire peacefully. “He’s got nothing left to prove. He’s been a shadow of his former self for quite a few months now,” Tsonga said in an interview with L’Equipe before the 2024 Barcelona Open. “I think he just wants to prove it to himself, to say to himself now, ‘I’m safe to leave, I’m at peace’.”
At the 2024 Barcelona Open, Nadal lost to Alex de Minaur in the second round 7-5, 6-1. However, he advanced two rounds further in the subsequent 2024 Madrid Open. The 14-time Roland Garros winner felt optimistic as he left Madrid and expressed his desire to participate in the upcoming 2024 Italian Open, a clay court tournament. Yet, it remains uncertain if Nadal will participate in the 2024 French Open.
