Is Rafael Nadal's Career Over?

Rafael Nadal, in a shocking development, has pulled out of the Australian Open due to an apparent illness.

I, for one, did not see this coming.  Rafael Nadal, as we all know, is the ultimate fighter.  He has won the French Open seven out of the last eight years, an amazing feat considering that a single clay court rally can be a physical challenge on it's own.

But, in the biggest upset I, for one, have ever seen, Nadal lost to Lukas Rosol in the Second Round of 2012 Wimbledon.  This was after he won the French Open, a favorite to win this one.  Rosol slapped the ball around, Nadal standing helpless.

That was the last time I saw Rafa.  He fell off the map, injured.  From there, the only news was about him dropping out of tournaments. First, it was the Olympics.  Next, it was the US Open.  Now, just as we think he might come back for the first major of the year, he pulls out of the Aussie.  Now, we must ask: Is Rafael Nadal's Career Over?

I previously have speculated that Nadal's late return could be due to his embarrassing loss to Rosol in addition to his injury.  And while that still may be true, with Nadal's work ethic, this is absolutely not how he wants to go out.

Nadal, the ultimate competitor does not want his lasting memory to be him, angrily, trudging off the court in an early-round upset.

Instead, I believe Nadal will come back for one more major, his favorite major.  Rafael Nadal, I think, will retire after the French Open.  But, not after winning it.  Yes, I have the sense that Nadal will retire after the French Open, going out on top, leaving a ton of questions unanswered.  Could Nadal have been the greatest of all time had he played longer?  Who really was the better player, himself or Federer?  And the answers to both are, we really don't know.

So, do I think Nadal's career is over.  No.  But it will be soon.  After he is on top.