I am here to play tennis – Rafael Nadal squashes Alexander Zverev’s retirement claim

Rafael Nadal has once again squashed retirement rumors, stating he is here to play Tennis and has no immediate plans to call it a day. Recently, Alexander Zverev claimed that Nadal might hang his boots after the conclusion of the 2023 French Open.

However, the Spaniard revealed he has no such plans and he intends to play and have a good season in 2023. Nadal had also recently denied his retirement speculations after the United Cup.

The veteran didn’t get off to a good start in 2023 as he lost both of his matches against Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the United Cup and thus he will be looking to turn the tables in the upcoming Australian Open.

“Unfortunately, I think Rafa will retire at Roland Garros. I don’t want it to happen, but I think he will have a great tournament, potentially win it and say goodbye,” Zverev had said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in six months,” Nadal said. “I have a very good relationship with Zverev, but not enough to confess something like that to him.

“The reality is that I’m here to play tennis, try to have a great 2023, fight for everything that I have struggled with throughout my career and I don’t think about my retirement,” he added.

The Spaniard was not amused by the same retirement question from the media.

“You think about it week after week because that’s how you show me at every press conference. But I will answer the same every time you ask me,” Nadal said.

The Spaniard still has a lot of fuel left in his tank and he wants to keep going strong, especially after a successful run in 2022. Nadal will begin his Australian Open defense against Great Britain’s Jack Draper on Monday.