Rafael Nadal speaks to Joao Fonseca and Alex Michelsen at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah.
Rafael Nadal on Monday received the Extraordinary Trophy at the Gran Gala of Mundo Deportivo, one of the Spanish newspapers that covered his ATP Tour career.
“I’m fine, perfect, doing a different kind of work, but trying to organise what my life is right now and what my life will be in the future,” explained Nadal at the gala. “All changes take time, but personally I’m very well. I’m getting used to a new stage of my life. The last years of my career were difficult and that helps me not to miss it so much. I only retired three months ago, not a year ago, so I can’t be completely clear, but at the moment I’m well.”
At 38 years of age, Nadal brought his life as a professional tennis player to an end in November, while playing for Spain at the Davis Cup. He left in his wake a career that included 92 titles, an all-time record of 14 French Opens, over 1000 wins. It is an astonishing legacy.
“The most important thing is that I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do what I was passionate about from a young age,” said Nadal. “It started out as a hobby and it was a very important part of my life and that’s the most important thing to me. Thanks to tennis I’ve been able to have experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. So all I can do is be grateful to my sport, to life, and to all the people that have helped me or stepped into my life at some point!”
Nadal, who suffered numerous injuries throughout his 20-year career, is enjoying a practically pain-free retirement, which is great news for the Mallorcan.
“Now I’m slightly in pain, I’m honestly not pushing myself,” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion. “I’m living with very little pain and that’s very important to me. In the end, getting up and walking down the stairs normally is huge progress for me in my daily life, being able to live with the peace of not being in too much pain.”
This news means, after a short time away from the game, Nadal can be happy and relaxed in his new life.
“I just retired, three months ago, and changes take time,” explained the Spaniard. “For me personally, I had respect for what the change would be, but I’m very happy in this new stage of my life. We’ll take it day by day, there are a lot of things to get used to and, in some ways, I have to discover what I’m really motivated to do in this new life. I’m confident it will also be exciting.”
