Rafael Nadal has shed light on his plans for life after ending his illustrious tennis career. The Spaniard officially retired in November, with his final professional appearance taking place at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

Since stepping away from the sport, speculation has swirled around how Nadal would choose to spend his post-retirement years. Shortly after retiring, the Spaniard recorded an impressive top-10 finish in a local golf tournament. Furthermore, his uncle Toni suggested that the 38-year-old would jump at the opportunity to be the director of Real Madrid due to his love of football, which implied that his future plans seemed rooted in the sporting world.

Rafael Nadal recently validated this view in a clip for Kia, admitting that he had to sacrifice his interest in other sports due to his tennis career. However, the 38-year-old expressed his belief that retirement had given him the freedom to recover those missed opportunities and rediscover his love for those activities, which he found liberating.

“When I was a kid, I played almost every sport. Of course, during my tennis career, I had to stop. I really believe that after my career I’m going to come back, recover all these years that I was not able to do all the things that I love to do. That in some way makes me feel free and happy,” he said.

Although Nadal has shared his desire to dive back into his passion for other sports, he hasn’t left tennis behind entirely. The Spaniard recently made an appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, where his presence left a mark on the rising stars. Tournament champion Joao Fonseca emphasized how “meaningful” it was to have a legend like the former World No. 1 in attendance.

Rafael Nadal: “I hope that my legacy is that I always tried to treat others with deep respect”

While Rafael Nadal’s impact on tennis is undeniable, as evidenced by rising star Joao Fonseca’s remarks, the Spaniard recently expressed his desire for his legacy to surpass his achievements on the court.

During a recent interview with The Players’ Tribune, the 22-time Grand Slam champion opened up about his aspiration to be remembered for his effort to treat others with “deep respect,” a value he learned from his father in childhood.

“I hope that my legacy is that I always tried to treat others with deep respect. This was the golden rule of my parents. When I was a kid, my father would always tell me, “Inventing is hard. Copying is much easier.” He wasn’t talking about tennis,” he said.

“It was about life. Look around you and notice the people you admire. How they treat people. What you love about them. Act like them, and you will probably live a happy life. I carried that lesson with me into every match I ever played,” he added.

The 38-year-old further disclosed that he “was not fueled by hatred of his rivals, but a deep respect and admiration.”