4 hours Ago By Fahad Hamid, Last Word On Sports
The Decision to Retire and Reflect Nadal’s decision to retire was rooted in the physical toll the sport had taken on his body and the mental strain he endured over decades of competition. “Every night before a match, I went to bed feeling that I could lose (and also when I woke up in the morning!),” he confessed. Despite his seemingly unshakable focus, Nadal revealed that the razor-thin margins in tennis and the unpredictability of each match kept his senses perpetually on edge.
“That feeling, the inner fire, and the nerves, the adrenaline of walking out and seeing a full court, it is a sensation that is very difficult to describe. It is a sensation that only a few can understand, and something that I am sure will never be the same now that I am retiring as a professional,” Nadal reflected. While he expressed a desire to continue playing exhibitions and exploring other competitive avenues, he acknowledged that nothing could replicate the intensity of stepping onto the court in a packed stadium.
In one of the most candid moments of his interview, Nadal shared how he once contemplated taking extended breaks from tennis to regain mental clarity. “I went through a very difficult moment, mentally, a few years ago,” he revealed. “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.” Despite these challenges, Nadal’s determination to overcome adversity remained unwavering.
“The thing that I’m most proud of is that I may have struggled, but I never quit. I always gave the maximum,” he said, underscoring the grit and resilience that defined his illustrious career. As Nadal bid farewell to professional tennis in November 2024, the sport mourned the retirement of one of its all-time greats.
Over 23 years, the left-hander accumulated an awe-inspiring 22 Grand Slam titles and 92 ATP victories, cementing his status as one of the “Big Three” alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic . His 14 French Open titles earned him the moniker “King of Clay” and set a benchmark unlikely to ever be surpassed. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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