He has been the best player in the history of tennis on clay, winning 14 Roland Garros and 22 Majors, a legend who not only amazed with his tennis, his intensity, dedication, effort, values and discipline have transcended beyond sport and has risen as a reference to follow for many.
Rafael Nadal was recognized again, this time by the AS Diarywho gave him the award that promotes him to legend once again for his career, which ended last year after so many glories and battles with injuries.
The champion of 22 Grand Slams gave an extensive interview to the aforementioned media outlet and there he talked about current tennis events, confessing if he likes what he sees on the men’s professional circuit. “Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no, of course. Just like when I played: sometimes I liked my rivals’ tennis and sometimes less. I have seen few matches, some I didn’t like, others I did… Like everything: there are times for everything.”declared the native of Manacor.
Rafael Nadal: I have always strived to give my best version
The 39-year-old Spaniard also talked about the two best players of the last two years, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, playing styles that he analyzed. “I don’t identify with any of them. They are different players than I was. I think Carlos is more random: he makes more mistakes, he makes more spectacular points, sometimes he doesn’t have such a defined game pattern, which makes him unpredictable and fun for the viewer. Jannik is a more methodical, focused player, with a more defined game pattern and who adds things little by little, which is why he is so solid and loses very few games. Sometimes it seems that Carlos is more scattered, but when you see the results… he has had a incredibly regular and solid year in all the important tournaments. That’s why it makes me laugh when I hear that it is scattered: the results say the opposite, that’s my point of view,” detailed the champion of 92 professional titles.
Nadal, as an exemplary figure who has reached the top of his sport and beyond the courts, also shared how he manages success and fame, a vision he shared with great sincerity. “Normally. Without realizing it, over the years you close your circle a little. I have tried not to do it, but you get tired of depending on what things. I have been lucky that when I returned home I led a normal life. Living in Mallorca, in Porto Cristo, has been key. There I could act with total freedom: go out to party, go to the beach, the supermarket, the cinema… what anyone does. In tournaments, in big cities, it was more complicated. That combination allowed me to maintain balance between my life as a public figure and my real life. You maintain your roots: lifelong friends, family. The other thing is an unreal and temporary world, which has lasted many years, but you know that it ends.explained the former world number one.
Recognized and praised for his pursuit of excellence, the Manacor native spoke of one of his other facets, that of a businessman. “I don’t think it was excellence. I have always strived to give my best version. Now I am learning what I can, trying to understand what I like most and what I like least about this new stage. I am lucky that I can dedicate more time to what I like. I am in the period of discovering what I would like to be ‘when I grow up’. I like the world of academies, that’s why I dedicate time. The world of education too: at the Academy, at the University (the UAX). The world of tourism… well Yes, I come from Mallorca, I am interested in it. I try to learn, to be with people who help me evolve. And then there are other things that I continue to do, that sometimes I want more and sometimes less. Rafael Nadal remarked.
