It’s NONSENSE to say that Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are hurting their legacies by soldiering on, writes MATTHEW LAMBERT

Retirement is the talk of Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray were asked before and after their first-round matches whether this would be their last French Open and both gave the same perfectly reasonable answer: “I don’t know.”

This will drag on. Andy, will this be your last Wimbledon? Will you retire after the Olympics? Rafa, is this your last US Open? Last Laver Cup?

The French Open had to cancel a farewell ceremony for Nadal. Wherever he and Murray go next, will there be montages, banners, cakes, plaques and pinatas ready to be wheeled away or hastily put away?

The most infamous example of this silliness happened at the 2019 Australian Open, when they read too much into Murray’s comments and threw a retirement party. Five years later, and here he remains.

Why are we so determined to retire these all-time greats?

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are being bombarded with questions about their retirement. Why are we so determined to rush these all-time greats?

They don’t owe us anything and they won’t damage their legacy by continuing

As fans, we want a chance to say goodbye: to see Nadal and Murray on court and know for sure that this is a goodbye. But they don’t owe us any explanation or any clarity. They owe us exactly nothing.

Perhaps Nadal or Murray have an event in mind that they would like to be their last, but more likely they will continue to fight tooth and nail to squeeze every last drop out of their careers.

It has been suggested that by going on and losing to players who would have beaten them at their peak, these two are damaging their legacy – what a huge shame. Former world champion Andy Roddick said it well: “This compromised version of Murray adds to his legacy. Watching him wrestle gets the fans involved.”

Tennis seems to be unique in this urge to rush stars to their graves, perhaps because it’s not a sport that allows you to age gracefully.

A footballer can become a small player, supported by younger teammates. Older golfers can cruise around, tip their caps and shuffle to the bar without anyone blinking.

Tennis players will always have to deal with someone younger, stronger and fitter and that can be exposing. But for Murray and Nadal, the signs are that they may be further away from retirement than was thought a few weeks ago. Murray is enjoying his move to a Yonex racket and Nadal is feeling as fit as he has been for the past two years – why on earth would they give up now?

Tennis seems unique in rushing its heroes to the grave, but why on earth would they give up?

Nadal played well enough against Alexander Zverev to suggest that, with a few months of matches left in his legs, he could become seriously competitive, at least on clay.

Could he come back here next year? Absolutely yes. Could he earn a seeding and avoid another nightmarish draw? Very likely. Could he win a 15th French Open? If there’s even a one percent chance of that happening, why on earth would he retire – and why on earth would we want to?