Rafael Nadal out of French Open due to injury and expects 2024 to be last of tennis career

Rafael Nadal has announced that he is missing this year's French Open due to a hip injury and will not be defending a crown he has won a record 14 times.

During a news conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca on Thursday, Nadal also admitted that 2024 is set to be his last in professional tennis.

The 36-year-old has not competed since January after sustaining a hip injury during his second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open and has now confirmed that he will miss the French Grand Slam that beings on May 28.

“The first thing is I’m not going to be able to play in Roland Garros,” Nadal said.

“I was even working as much as possible every single day for last four months, they have been very difficult months because we were not able to find a solution to the problems I have in Australia.

“Today I am still in a position where I am not able to feel myself ready to compete at the standards I need to be able to play Roland Garros.

“I am not the guy who will be at Roland Garros just to play.”

Nadal, who has long been the dominating force on the clay-court season, has competed at Roland Garros every year since claiming the first of his record 22 major titles – an achievement shared with old rival Novak Djokovic – in Paris in 2005.

With Rafa's Roland Garros participation uncertain, here's a look at all of Nadal's injuries over the years.This man is an absolute warrior. Not just for playing through pain, but for conquering it in so many matchesAsk yourself this. How many slams would a healthy Nadal have? pic.twitter.com/82y4PkoNfY

He overcame a niggling foot injury to defeat Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in last year's final and became the oldest champion in tournament history.

Nadal has battled his way through