Rafael Nadal ended his profession just a few weeks in the past, giving his finest on the court docket till the final match. The previous world No. 1 was defeated by Botic van de Zandschulp in his final singles as knowledgeable tennis participant, however he as soon as once more confirmed all his huge dedication to the game.
Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
The 22-time Grand Slam champion didn’t obtain the outcomes he would have favored in his final dance and thought of persevering with to play in 2025, however he realized that there was no resolution to return aggressive on the highest degree.
At nearly 38 years previous, the Spanish legend has determined to begin the second chapter of his life wherein he’ll dedicate himself to his stunning household, his Academy and his Basis. The 14-time French Open champion has at all times been an instance each on and off the court docket, usually pushing his limits and demonstrating what it means to by no means hand over.
An necessary lesson
Nadal has been helped by his uncle Toni for many of his profession, a help that has helped him tremendously throughout his development as a person and as a tennis participant. Toni gave up the function of coach within the final years of Rafa’s profession, preferring to dedicate his time to the Academy in Manacor and giving approach to Carlos Moya.
Throughout an interview after his retirement, the Spaniard revealed a lesson he discovered from his uncle: “One day, I went out fishing when I could have been practicing. The next day, I lost my match. I was crying in the car on the way back home, and my uncle, who at that young age had a big influence on me, and who was the one who made me fall in love with tennis, he said: “It’s OK, it’s just a tennis match. Don’t cry now, there is no point. If you want to fish, you can fish. No problem. But you will lose. If you want to win? If you want to win, then you have to do what you have to do first.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion continued: “It was a vital lesson for me. If folks see me as a perfectionist, then it comes from that internal voice that was calling to me on the automobile experience residence. The voice has by no means left me. Someday, I may be on the sea. Right this moment, and tomorrow … I’ve to follow.”
Rafael Nadal© Tenis Espana/Instagram – Fair Use
Rafa translated his uncle’s teachings on the tennis court for about 20 years, becoming one of the best athletes of all time. The 14-time French Open champion has set some absurd records on red clay, transforming himself into a versatile player capable of winning on all surfaces.
No one knows exactly what Nadal will do in the coming years, but it seems unlikely that he will become a coach like his former rival Andy Murray (who will follow Novak Djokovic in Australia). The former world number 1 is not willing to travel much and perhaps he will give advice to the young players of his Academy in Manacor.
Rafa’s secret
The former world No. 1 has never broken a racket during his career and has shown that he always has total control of his nerves. Thanks to the teachings of his uncle Toni, Nadal learned how to manage frustration and this ability allowed him to win many matches in which he found himself very close to defeat.
Rafael Nadal© Tenis Espana/Instagram – Truthful Use
In an extended dialog with ‘The Players Tribune’, the Spanish legend defined some new particulars about his angle: “For 30 years, the image that I was transmitting to the world was not always what I was feeling inside.
Honestly, I have been nervous before every match I have ever played — it never leaves you.
For most of my career, I was good at controlling these emotions. With one exception.
I went through a very difficult moment, mentally, a few years ago. Physical pain I was very used to, but there were times on the court when I had trouble controlling my breathing, and I couldn’t play at the highest level. I don’t have trouble saying it now. After all, we are human beings, not superheroes.
In the end, I worked on it every day to get better. I conquered it by always moving forward, and I slowly became myself again.
The thing that I’m most proud of is that I may have struggled, but I never quit. I always gave the maximum.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion obtained quite a lot of messages after the announcement of his retirement, an extra demonstration of how profound his influence on tennis and sport on the whole has been.
