Rafael Nadal’s 2024 season has been clouded by his recent announcement that he will not be competing in the forthcoming Laver Cup in Berlin. The 38-year-old Spanish tennis legend was forced to withdraw due to persistent fitness issues. He had previously stated in April that he intended to compete for Team Europe and reiterated his commitment last month. Nadal’s absence from the Laver Cup event follows the Spaniard’s decision to skip the US Open, signifying yet another injury-plagued year.

2024 could be Nadal’s last year as a professional tennis player; during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the 22-time Grand Slam winner lost to his arch-rival Novak Djokovic and also played men’s doubles with Carlos Alcaraz but lost in the quarterfinal; following the Olympics, he withdrew from the 2024 US Open.

I’m really disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week. This is a team competition, and to support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them, and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win, Nadal said in a statement.

I have so many great, emotional memories from playing Laver Cup, and I was looking forward to being with my teammates and with Bjorn in his final year as captain. I wish Team Europe the very best of luck and will be cheering them on from afar, he added.

Team Europe is yet to announce a replacement for Nadal. Team Europe, led by former Swedish player Bjorn Borg, currently includes Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nadal’s withdrawal is a huge blow to the team, which will need to adjust its strategy in his absence.

Team World, on the other hand, has made its own changes, as Tommy Paul and Alex de Minaur will not be competing. Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis will complete the squad, which will be captained by John McEnroe. Alejandro Tabilo, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz are also on the roster.

With his withdrawal from the Laver Cup, Nadal has raised questions about his future in tennis. He hasn’t made any announcements about his retirement plans, but his ongoing fitness issues raise the possibility that his brilliant career is coming to an end.

Nadal made his return from injury at the 2024 Brisbane International. He lost in the quarterfinals and sustained injuries once again, which forced him to skip the Australian Open. Later on, Nadal was eliminated in the first round of the French Open and then skipped Wimbledon. He was back in action in the Swedish Open in July and then competed in Paris 2024.