Tiger Woods doesn't want Nadal to hang up his racket

Golf legend Tiger Woods hopes tennis player Rafael Nadal will return to compete for titles in the 2024 season.

"To me, what Nadal has done is incredible," Tiger Woods told Eurosport on November 29, when asked about the career difficulties of stars with many injuries like himself and Nadal. "Nadal won the Australian Open with a broken foot. He has overcome all limits."

Woods (right) has a good relationship with Nadal. Photo: CNN — Woods (right) has a good relationship with Nadal. Photo: *CNN*

According to Woods, Nadal, like other older athletes, faces the issue of time. In some sports, such as tennis or soccer, an athlete's career can be shorter than in golf or billiards.

"I don't want Nadal to hang up his racket," Woods added. "I never wanted Federer to stop. But it happened, it's hard to change the rules. We all want to see him play, to admire his talent, his passion and understand why he plays this sport."

Nadal recently announced his return to competition in 2024, after a year off due to injury. The 37-year-old is considered fit to play at the Australian Open, but has yet to make a decision. Nadal's main focus is the clay season, which includes two key events for him: Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics.

Like Nadal, Woods has been plagued by injuries in the final years of his career. He lost most of the feeling in his right leg after a serious car accident in 2021. Woods last played at this year's Masters, where he made it to the final two weekends but withdrew due to a recurrence of the injury.

Woods had arthritis surgery in April and has since embarked on a lengthy rehabilitation period. “I don’t have the pain I had before the surgery,” the 15-time major winner said. “The ankle is fine, so the surgery was successful. But other parts of my body are a little more sore because they’re carrying the load, like my knees and my back. It’s a chain reaction.”

Woods said he would quit golf if he could no longer compete for titles. He added: "I love the competition. I love the atmosphere, I love winning. There will come a time when I know I can't win anymore and I will leave."

Vy Anh

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