Rafael Nadal Reflects on His Retirement and His Unwavering Peace with Walking Away from Tennis in Madrid

At the Laureus World Sport Awards in Madrid, Rafael Nadal shared a surprising revelation that left many fans curious.

Despite being one of the greatest tennis players of all time, the 38-year-old Spaniard admitted that he doesn’t miss the sport at all, even after retiring last year.

No Regrets and No Nostalgia

Nadal, who secured 22 Grand Slam titles during his illustrious career, including a remarkable 14 victories at Roland Garros, retired after his final match at the Davis Cup in November.

When asked if he missed tennis, Nadal responded bluntly: “The truth is that I don’t miss tennis. Zero. I don’t miss it at all.”

However, he quickly clarified that his feelings weren’t due to any bitterness or frustration with the game.

“It’s not because I finished tired of tennis or fighting against tennis,” he explained.

Instead, Nadal emphasized that he ended his career content, saying, “I finished my career happy, and if I could have, I would have carried on, because I loved what I was doing.”

The Reality of Physical Limits

Despite his deep passion for tennis, Nadal recognized that his body simply couldn’t keep up with the demands of the sport anymore.

“It was my passion and that’s been the case all my life,” he shared.

But as time went on, he knew it was time to move on.

“When you realise that physically you can’t do it anymore… you try to close that chapter. And I closed it,” Nadal admitted.

Throughout his career, Nadal battled numerous injuries, but he fought to keep playing until the very end.

“I delayed making my final decision because I needed time to be sure it was the right one,” he confessed.

Ultimately, it was the realization that his body couldn’t recover to the level he needed to enjoy the game that led him to retire.

Retiring with Peace of Mind

For Nadal, the toughest part wasn’t stepping away from tennis—it was making sure he did it on his own terms.

“What would have been hard was sitting on my sofa wondering if I should keep trying to play,” he said.

But by the time he made his decision, Nadal felt a sense of peace knowing that he had given everything to the sport.

“I finished with the peace of mind of knowing that I’d given it my all, and that my body couldn’t give any more,” he reflected.

While Nadal’s absence from the tennis court is certainly felt, it’s clear that he’s made peace with his decision and is embracing the next chapter of his life with no regrets.