Rafael Nadal Reflects on His Career
Rafael Nadal, a tennis legend, recently reflected on his illustrious yet injury-plagued career. Turning professional in 2001, Nadal amassed an impressive record of 22 Grand Slam victories along with 92 other major titles before announcing his retirement in November 2024. Unfortunately, his journey was marred by recurrent injuries, which limited his participation in numerous tournaments, including 11 Grand Slams.
Influence of Injuries on Retirement Decision
In a candid conversation with the Spanish sports program El Larguero, the 39-year-old shared that his physical ailments significantly influenced his decision to step away from the game, although he emphasized that he never regretted the titles he didn’t win due to those setbacks.
If it weren’t for my physical condition, I’d still be playing tennis.
He acknowledged the reality of his age and contrasted his situation with fellow competitor Marcel Granollers, also 39, who currently plays doubles, noting the distinct paths their careers have taken.
Return to Practice and Future Aspirations
Nadal recently returned to the practice courts of his academy for the first time since retirement, where he played casually with promising WTA talent Alexandra Eala.
I felt like a pure sparring partner; I was just there as a sidekick.
He mentioned that he had only played for an hour and a half in the last two weeks. Despite dealing with some physical discomfort, he expressed a desire to maintain a connection to tennis by playing once a week.
Contentment with Retirement and Exhibition Matches
In the same interview, Nadal expressed a contentment with his decision to retire, indicating that he sees this phase of his life as closed, yet he remains open to the idea of participating in exhibition matches alongside his long-time rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
This doesn’t mean I can’t have fun in an exhibition in the future.
He underscored the possibility of a reunion with these iconic players.
Rivalries and Future Prospects
Nadal has had an extensive rivalry with Federer, competing against him 40 times and securing 24 victories, while his rivalry with Djokovic spanned 60 matches, with Nadal winning 29 of those encounters. The prospect of playing exhibition matches, however, would not come with expectations of their former competitive intensity, as he noted that they would prepare to perform at the best level they could.
