Rafael Nadal names his favourite moments from his career and what he is ‘most proud of’
Rafael Nadal has reflected on his favourite moments from his tennis career and also revealed what he is “most proud of” ahead of his retirement.
The former world No 1 looked back with fondness at tournaments in 2006, 2008 and 2022, as well as the entirety of his 2013 season.
Nadal will make the last appearance of his staggering career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals knockout stage in Malaga, which will run from November 19-24.
The 38-year-old, who played his first professional match in 2001, won his 22nd Grand Slam title and record-extending 14th Roland Garros crown at the 2022 French Open. That was Nadal’s 92nd and final ATP title.
The Spaniard reached the last final of his career at the Swedish Open in July and played his most recent competitive singles match at the Paris Olympics in August.
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In an interview with AS, Nadal revealed his favourite moments from his time in the sport.
“It is always easier and more logical to focus on the latest, because it is the most recent and the one we remember the most,” Nadal began. “But well, for me, there have been moments that have had great value.
“Roland Garros 2006, for example. Because it was the first year after the foot injury. Really, and I don’t want to make an epic story, it’s true, we didn’t think I would play tennis at a competitive level again.
“I remember that one, because we went through many bad times. The more advanced injuries in your career, when you have already achieved a lot, are tolerated in one way or are seen from a slightly different perspective.
“But when you have just started and you have spent your whole life preparing for it and in the first year that you really have a good one they tell you that you will not play again, it is hard.
“It was not a matter of a few weeks, but several months. From Madrid, which was indoor, until January, I could not find a solution.
“And then Wimbledon 2008, the Olympic Games that year, which were also very nice, were key in my career.
“All of 2013, because after 2012 when I was unable to play from Wimbledon to Vina del Mar [in February 2013] and I still had a lot of pain in my knee, everything that happened was very emotional… And Australia 2022 is one of the most exciting things I have ever experienced.”
The Mallorcan also divulged that the fact he feels loved by the tennis world is what makes him most proud.
“What I am most proud of is having finished my career and leaving tennis with the satisfaction of feeling valued and loved, not only by the public, who in the end can have a more passionate view of what the sport itself is, because what they see are your successes and there is a certain attitude towards all of that,” Nadal said.
“The fact is that I have maintained a very good relationship with all the people who have always been close to me, both family and team, as well as the vast majority of people with whom I have worked and spent time with at some point, both in tournaments and on the ATP circuit.
“I leave with the feeling that when I return to a tournament, they will be happy to see me. It is the satisfaction of having done things well, not only by hitting the racket, but on a human level, which in the end is much more important.
“And the other thing that I am most satisfied with, the only thing that always mattered to me in the end, is finishing the tournaments and returning home with the peace of mind of having done everything in my hands to make it as good as possible.
“And, consequently, when I finished my career, I would have the peace of mind to say, well, look, this is what there was, I gave it my all, there was nothing else.”
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