Rafael Nadal has left tennis a living legend, with the Spaniard leaving a huge hole in the sport following his retirement.
Andrea Petkovic says Nadal was always anxious, with that trait making him such a strong competitor on the court.
Nadal could coach Spain at the Davis Cup in the near future, having retired at the event after his nation’s early exit.
Spain fell to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in Malaga, with the latter going on to lose the final to Italy.
Jannik Sinner helped the Italians win back-to-back Davis Cups, one of many competitions Nadal thrived in throughout his career.
Jim Courier wants a Rafael Nadal book after his retirement
It remains to be seen what comes next for the 22-time Grand Slam champion, although former world number one Jim Courier does have an idea for Nadal post-retirement.
“The guy’s been so much to admire, and I hope that he and his team will take advantage of not just what he’s given the sport on the court, but also what he’s given in the press room,” Courier told Tennis Channel.
“I hope they’ll put together a book filled with just absolute gems and observations that he has done in post-match interviews, because he’s been someone who sees his world and the tennis world, the sporting world so clearly and simply too.
“It’s hard to distil that type of emotional experience the way that he has consistently done. So there’s a there’s a book, a significant one I think, that would be kind of like an inner game of tennis book that would be here 100 years from now, to be done. Just pulling the gems out of his transcripts, the guy’s been unbelievable to watch and to listen to.”
Will Rafael Nadal follow Andy Murray into coaching?
Nadal could undoubtedly part plenty of wisdom to the tennis world and indeed those outside of the game thanks to his several years of service at the very top.
The Spaniard is a former world number one, a 92-time ATP Tour champion and retires with only two Grand Slams fewer than all-time leader Novak Djokovic.
READ MORE: Billie Jean King says what she got wrong about Rafael Nadal as she recalls ‘special moment’
Given his age and his lengthy career, the 38-year-old may have plans to simply lie low for many years, with a book perhaps the last thing on his mind.
Many of his fellow former professionals have gone down that route in the past, with many also turning to coaching and media duties.
Inspiration may just be taken from Andy Murray, who has already agreed to coach former rival Djokovic having only retired in August.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
