Rafael Nadal was recently given the Sporting Icon award at the Laureus World Sport Awards held in Madrid. The 38-year-old tennis star has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 French Open trophies. He played his last match at the Davis Cup in Malaga in November before retiring from tennis.
“I Don’t Miss It at All,” Says Rafael Nadal
When speaking to the media, Nadal was very honest.
“The truth is that I don’t miss tennis. Zero. I don’t miss it at all,” he said. But he explained this is not because he was tired of the sport or had bad feelings about it.
Happy With How His Career Ended
Nadal shared that he retired feeling happy.
“If I could have, I would have continued,” he said.
He loved playing tennis and had a lot of passion for it throughout his life. But he realized that his body could no longer handle the physical demands, so he chose to close that chapter.
Injuries Made It Hard to Continue
Rafael Nadal dealt with many injuries during his long career.
He said he waited a long time to make his final decision to retire. He didn’t want to rush.
“What would have been hard was sitting on my sofa wondering if I should keep trying,” he added.
His Body Couldn’t Keep Up Anymore
Nadal said he finally decided to stop when he saw his body wasn’t recovering the way it needed to. He could no longer play at the level that allowed him to enjoy the game.
Peace of Mind After Retirement
Because he gave his best until the end, Nadal says he has no regrets.
“That’s why I don’t miss it,” he said. “I finished with peace of mind, knowing I gave it my all. My body couldn’t give any more.”
