Rafael Nadal on Sunday left the door open to continuing his world-beating career indefinitely but admitted after training at the Brisbane International that he could be starting his last appearance in Australia.
The 37-year-old is due for an injury return to the court after last playing nearly a year ago in a second-round defeat at the Australian Open.
“I can’t predict what’s going on 100 percent in the future,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion said.
“That’s why I say ‘probably’ (his last season). It’s obvious it’s a high percentage that it’s going to be my last time playing here in Australia.
“But if I am here next year, don’t tell me, ‘You said it was going to be your last season’, because I didn’t say it.
“You never know what’s going on, you know? I can’t predict how I’m going to be in the next six months.
“I can’t predict if my body will allow me to enjoy tennis as much as I enjoyed the past 20 years. I know inside myself that it is a high percentage that it’s going to be my last one.
“Of course I was asking myself (about retirement), but at some point I decided to keep going. I had the determination to keep going.”
Nadal learned the name of his opening-round opponent, with the Spaniard lined up to face former US open winner Dominic Thiem.
The Austrian who has also suffered in recent seasons with injury, came through qualifying – including winning a match where one of Australia’s many poisonous snakes had to be removed from the court area, interrupting play.
Nadal will be using Brisbane as a test bed for what will hopefully be a smooth entry into the Open which begins January 14 in Melbourne.
“I don’t have the expectations that I used to have in the past. “It’s obvious, no? For me it is a little bit unpredictable how things are going to be.”
