Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from this year’s French Open due to a hip injury.

This will be the first time in 19 year’s Nadal has missed the French Open, which will start later this month.

Nadal, too, suggested retiring at the end of the season.

“I didn’t make the decision, my body made the decision. To play Roland Garros is impossible,” he said.

“Next year will probably be my last year, that is my idea. If I keep going now I won’t be able to make it happen.”

Nadal has won the the French Open men’s singles title a record 14 times, including a consecutive five times from 2010 to 2014.

“I was working as much as possible every single day for the past four months. I’m still in the position where I am not able to feel ready to compete at the standards I need to be to play at Roland Garros,” he added.

“I am not the guy who will be at Roland Garros just try to be there and in a position where I don’t like to be.”

Whether Nadal will compete at Wimbledon, which will start on 3 July 2023, remains in the balance. Nadal won the Wimbledon title in 2008 and 2010.

“I will stop for a while, maybe one month and a half, maybe two months, maybe three months or maybe four months. I don’t know. I do not like to predict the future,” he concluded.

“I will do the right thing for my body and personal happiness. My goal and ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year.”

“That is my idea but I can’t say 100 percent it will be like this. My idea is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me.

“My motivation is to enjoy the season and say goodbye to all the tournaments I have enjoyed in my career.”