Rafael Nadal may have stepped away from professional tennis nearly a year ago, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion isn’t slowing down.
While his racket rests after retiring at the Olympic Games last year in August, Nadal is keeping active and he has just revealed an unexpected (and humbling) post-retirement confession that’s left fans both surprised and endeared.
The Spanish tennis icon made a rare appearance at Roland Garros last month to mark his legacy at the French Open, where his iconic footprint was unveiled on Court Philippe-Chatrier. It was a poignant moment for a player whose name is synonymous with clay-court dominance.
However behind the scenes, Nadal has been exploring other ways to stay fit, including his long-lost passion for football.
Nadal admitted, “Now I’ve played football several times. After 15 years without playing, I’ve become bad at it… I play how I can. Usually as a forward.”.
A known Real Madrid fanatic (despite his uncle Miguel Ángel Nadal’s Barcelona ties), the 38-year-old laughed off his rusty performance but didn’t hide his excitement to return to the pitch, injury-free at last.
“I love sports in general, and my life has always been linked to sports,” he said. “But I became especially interested in golf when I was a professional because it was a sport that allowed me to do something I enjoyed outside of tennis and with minimal risk of injury.”.
With a growing interest in golf and a relaxed return to football, Nadal has been embracing sport from a different angle, no longer bound by the demands of the ATP Tour. Yet, the question lingers: could tennis remain part of his future, even in a new form?
“Tennis is part of my life,” Nadal said. “Right now, I’m doing a little bit of everything. I’ve kept some routines from my playing days to protect my knees and shoulders… I’m preparing for the moment I choose to pick up a racket again — even if it looks a little different than before.”.
While fellow greats like Andy Murray are already stepping into coaching, with Murray recently joining Novak Djokovic’s team, Nadal has yet to take that path himself. Still, he has not ruled it out. Former Spanish champions Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, who currently coaches Carlos Alcaraz, have set strong examples. Nadal has acknowledged that tennis may still be part of his future, even if his role changes.
For now, though, the focus is on health, recovery, and his young family. Retirement has given Nadal time to reflect, not just on wins and trophies, but on how he wants to be remembered.
“On a sporting level, the results are what people will remember,” Nadal said. “On a human level… the people who work at a tournament, not just your team, are the ones who see your day-to-day life. They are the ones who truly value how you are.”.
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“I would like to be one of those people who, when they return to tournaments after three or four years, even if it’s just for two days, enjoy seeing me again. I’ve had a good reaction from everyone during [my] 20-year career, and this is what remains.”.
“The way you’ve behaved, the way you’ve treated the people you’ve been around. I’ve tried to do that well, and I’m more or less loved for the way I’ve behaved.”.
From candid self-assessments to heartfelt reflections, Nadal’s post-retirement journey proves that even off the court, he’s still winning hearts. Whether he returns to tennis in a new role or just keeps playing “as a forward,” fans are clearly still here for it.
