Tennis great's tip for Rafa retirement timeline

Aussie tennis large Todd Woodbridge has made a prediction astir however Rafael Nadal volition program for his status pursuing his 2nd circular nonaccomplishment successful the Australian Open, with a curtain telephone babelike connected his signifier crossed the clay-court season, culminating astatine Roland-Garros.

The Spaniard has battled injuries to his feet, elbows, knees and wrists implicit the past respective seasons.

On Wednesday, helium took a aesculapian timeout aft injuring his hep against Mackenzie McDonald. He battled done the injury, but was yet knocked retired successful consecutive sets.

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Speaking connected Nine's Australian Open coverage, Woodbridge said Nadal was improbable to openly speech astir his pathway to status but said determination were immoderate cardinal markers that would find his position.

Nadal waves goodbye to the assemblage connected Rod Laver Arena aft losing to Mackenzie McDonald. (Getty)

"I deliberation helium won't accidental anything. He'll get to Paris - I deliberation that's a main happening for him, and we'll spot however helium performs," Woodbridge said.

"If helium goes and finds signifier successful the clay tribunal season, helium keeps going. But if helium falls implicit there, I don't deliberation he'll privation to support playing mediocre similar helium has for the past fewer months."

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

Speaking connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily, Mark Petchey said helium believed Nadal's nonaccomplishment to McDonald was his past Australian Open match.

"I don't privation to constitute him into retirement, but I would beryllium betting connected the information that helium whitethorn discontinue astatine Roland Garros this year," helium said.

Match Highlights: Rafael Nadal v Mackenzie Mcdonald

"He has been done truthful overmuch successful the past year, that's the consciousness that I person close now.

"I genuinely don't privation to spot him bent up his racquets astatine Roland Garros - I privation him to play forever.

"The world is that helium can't and I conscionable wonderment conscionable however agelong he'll beryllium blessed if helium can't find the benignant of signifier that makes him competitory connected these large courts."

Sam Smith believes it was "miraculous" Nadal adjacent managed to get connected the tribunal astatine the Australian Open pursuing his caller tally with injuries.

Smith said Nadal's refusal to discontinue from Wednesday's match - adjacent erstwhile intelligibly successful discomfort - is simply a motion of respect to the game.

Rafael Nadal speaks to the media. (Getty)

"He's had truthful galore injuries it's miraculous helium adjacent gets to the tribunal these days," she said.

"What I loved astir that was however overmuch respect helium has for the game, his opponent, the Australian Open.

"Even his container was shouting astatine him to stop. I've seen that before, and helium conscionable won't. It is bonzer what helium does."

"What we should bash is observe however singular it is that helium is inactive here. 

"We (are) utilized to players - Roger, Andy Murray and Novak - going mode into their 30s and playing astatine a truly precocious level (but) it's ne'er truly been done … successful modern-day tennis.

"To play arsenic agelong arsenic helium has is exceptional."

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