Rafael Nadal has tipped Novak Djokovic to have a ‘small mental breakdown’ before he officially retires from professional men’s tennis.
Djokovic is the last player left standing from the Big Four era, with Nadal set to join Roger Federer and Andy Murray in retirement after the Davis Cup Finals.
The Serbian said this month that he is ‘overwhelmed’ the losses of Nadal, Federer and Murray while Djokovic also admits a big part of him has ‘left with them’.
Speaking in July, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who is now widely considered as the greatest player of all time – especially after his gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris this year – said that he wanted to continue fighting the newer generation of players including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
At the age of 37, though, Djokovic surely cannot have too much longer on the ATP Tour and Nadal thinks his former rival could soon have a breakdown.
‘I think it’s human that Novak, even if he’s still healthy, is of a certain age and it’s logical that the clock takes its toll on all of us,’ Nadal told Spanish outlet AS.
‘And that, once Federer has gone, once I’m gone, since we’ve been his two great rivals, at some point he also has a small mental breakdown and will find a reason to step aside.’
Nadal added: ‘That’s what happens to everyone. And Novak is good enough to, if he’s healthy, continue to be competitive at the highest level and aspire to win the most important tournaments.
‘And if he’s still happy doing what he does, he’ll keep doing it. If at some point, everything he has to do to have a chance of continuing to be at the highest level is no longer worth it, then he’ll step aside, that’s what I think.’
Nadal has massively struggled with injury problems in his twilight years and recently hinted that he may have to rethink his last professional appearance if he is not fit enough to play for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November.
Following the Six Kings Slam exhibition event – his penultimate tournament before retirement – Nadal said: ‘Will I be ready for the Davis Cup? Emotionally, yes, that’s for sure; physically and tennis-wise, I still have a month ahead of me.
‘I will prepare, I will try to be in shape to help the team win. If I feel ready and the captain feels the same way, it will be his decision. If I don’t feel ready, I will be the first to step away and see how I can help.
‘First, I have to be the one who feels competitive to get into the game, then you can win or lose, that’s part of the sport. If I’m not 100 per cent or if I’m far from winning my match, I won’t go on the court.’