Leading tennis coach and analyst Brad Gilbert has proclaimed that Rafael Nadal is unlikely to ever return to his previous best level.

The former world No 4 feels Nadal wants to know “what his game is like when he’s completely healthy” before he retires since he has been severely restricted by injury problems in the past two years.

Nadal is in action at the Swedish Open in Bastad this week and he will play world No 51 Nuno Borges in the final of the ATP 250 event on Sunday. It is the first final Nadal has reached since he won his 22nd Grand Slam title and 14th French Open crown in June 2022.

The former world No 1 is playing his first tournament since he was beaten by Alexander Zverev in the opening round at Roland Garros at the end of May.

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The 38-year-old is competing at the clay-court tournament to prepare for the tennis event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will be staged at Roland Garros from July 27 to August 4.

Nadal is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, having won the singles event at the 2008 Beijing Games and the doubles with compatriot Marc Lopez in Rio in 2016.

In an interview with Clay, Gilbert cast doubt on the prospect of Nadal reaching his previous lofty heights, but explained he understands why the Spaniard wants to keep playing.

“He will probably never reach his best level again, but I think above all else, every athlete wants to be able to retire in his own way,” said the American, who coaches WTA world No 2 Coco Gauff.

“He wants to be and decide that maybe it’s time to stop. He’s had so many injuries in the last two years that he probably hasn’t had a period where he really felt healthy.

“And that’s what he wants to know more than anything, before he stops, what his game is like when he’s completely healthy.”

Nadal has left the door open to extending his career since returning to action during the clay-court season earlier this year, having previously announced 2024 would likely be his final season.

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