New Delhi: Since his retirement six months ago, Rafael Nadal reveals he is yet to pick up the tennis racquet. Not that he longs for it or wishes to as he continues to feel through his life after tennis.
On Sunday, the 38-year-old received a fitting farewell at Roland Garros, the Grand Slam he won a record 14 times, the most by a player at any of the sport’s four major tournaments.
Nadal was given a moving tribute at Court Philippe-Chatrier, the centre of his 14 titles, in the presence of his career rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Apart from 22 Grand Slams, his singular win-loss record of 112-4 at the red clay of Paris make Nadal a unique player, though he think it is surmountable.
Legendary moment with the legends of the game @rogerfederer @DjokerNole @andy_murray 🥹#RolandGarros @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/kfnQFIWFsS
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2025
“I really feel that if I did it — I don’t consider myself somebody very, very special — another one is going to come and going to achieve that, too,” he said.
“A lot of things need to happen in your favour to make that happen, because you need a long career, because you can’t have a lot of injuries, even if I had (my share). … You can have injuries, you can have very, very bad days. So you need some luck, too.”
‘Having fun’
After two decades of striving for sporting excellence that gave him a spate of injuries, the Spaniard now spends more time with his wife and two-year-old son and looks after his business interests that includes a tennis academy, a hotel company and a nutritional supplements company, apart from his charitable foundation.
But he also accepts that nothing could match the adrenalines sports provides though it doesn’t make him discontent. “I am discovering, what really motivates me for this new life,” Nadal said.
“I am having fun. I don’t miss much tennis, because I feel that I (gave) all what I had. I arrive at the day of today with the peace that I can’t be on court. My body doesn’t allow me to be on court. So that’s all. I am (at) peace.
“I did all (that) I could to have the best career possible, and now I am enjoying this new phase of my life, that I am sure going to be less exciting than the tennis career,” he added.
Rafael Nadal received a fitting farewell at Roland Garros, the Grand Slam he won a record 14 times, the most by a player at any of the sport’s four major tournaments Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
