Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, has challenged the common perception that modern life is more difficult for the younger generation.
In a recent interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, the retired tennis star argued that while the world is evolving, the fundamental requirements for success—discipline, effort, and resilience—remain unchanged.
Nadal, who retired from professional tennis in 2024, suggested that the current generation often misinterprets the nature of achievement. “That can create confusion in the mind of the younger generation, which believes it can have everything right away,” he said. He emphasized that major milestones require sustained commitment, noting, "Things that are truly important take time, they don't just happen."
A Documented Legacy
The reflections follow the release of a luxury visual biography titled Rafa Nadal, published by Assouline, a house founded in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline. The volume, which is part of the publisher’s Ultimate Collection, is available in three versions ranging from 120 to 3,000 euros.
The work was authored by Jon Wertheim, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and correspondent for 60 Minutes, known for his previous book Strokes of Genius, which chronicled the 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Roger Federer.
Values at the UAX Rafa Nadal University
On October 16, 2026, the Escuela Universitaria UAX Rafa Nadal was honored at the Comunidad de Madrid’s 2025 Siete Estrellas del Deporte awards, receiving the prize in the Values category. During the ceremony at the Real Casa de Correos in Madrid, Nadal highlighted the importance of translating athletic principles into the classroom.
“The idea was to bring to the classrooms what sport has given me: daily effort, discipline, respect, humility, and knowing how to surround yourself with a good team,” Nadal said during the event. He added that these values must be demonstrated consistently, particularly when faced with adversity.
Defining Success Through Effort
In his conversation with Le Figaro, Nadal rejected the idea that today’s youth face insurmountable obstacles compared to previous eras. Instead, he proposed that the inverse is true. “The life has always been difficult and it is not more so today than yesterday,” he stated. “I think it’s the other way around: young people generally have more possibilities than before.”
“No you cannot be 100% satisfied with yourself if you haven’t explored all your limits. If you don’t work hard enough, if you don’t suffer, mentally and physically.” He added that both victories and defeats serve as essential tools for self-discovery.
“You have to invest hours and hours, days of work,” he noted, emphasizing that “a good education and good values” are central to the process. He concluded that “perhaps we need to return to teaching the young generation that, to do things well, you have to work hard.”
Life Beyond the Professional Tour
Since stepping away from the ATP circuit, Nadal has shifted his focus toward his family and his educational initiatives. In a recent interview with The Athletic, the Mallorca native noted that despite his global career, his personal life has remained anchored in his home region.
“I have kept the same friends since I was little,” he said, adding that he has never moved away from his birthplace. He noted that while he feels fortunate for his career, “I retired only two years ago, but it already seems like another life has passed since I played tennis. I almost forget that I was a tennis player.”
Regarding his current activities, Nadal told Le Figaro that he does not miss the demands of professional competition and now spends 99% of his time with his children. He continues to view his sports academy as a legacy project, describing it as a method that combines physical well-being with academic education, designed to be scalable globally as the importance of health and fitness grows in a rapidly changing world.
“In a world that changes very quickly, well-being, the fact of taking care of the body is something that will count more and more,” he said. “As for education, it is the foundation of the future.”
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