Rafael Nadal rocked the tennis world earlier this month, when he finally revealed that he would be calling time on his sparkling career.
The Spaniard, who revolutionised tennis with his unique and unbridled athleticism, has left an imprint on the sport that will not soon dissipate.
As such, his absence will hit many hard, even if his fitness and form had waned in recent years.
The former of those two issues had admittedly plagued Rafael Nadal throughout his entire career really, and now he has been asked a question that many have debated.
Rafael Nadal shares private Roger Federer chat
Asked by Spanish outlet AS if he felt like he would have more Grand Slam titles were it not for injuries, Nadal was candid in his response.
The 38-year-old honestly admitted: ‘Maybe so, but… In the end, it is obvious that I have missed out more than all my rivals, in terms of chances of winning Grand Slams, but the reality is that this has happened to me. I am never one to think ‘if I had done it’ or ‘if I hadn’t had’ (those injuries). It has been like this and, with it, I have had a career that I would never have imagined and I am more than happy.
‘I have spoken about it with Federer recently, with Carlos (Alcaraz) and his family here one morning the other day. You want to be the best when you are in competition, because it is the nature of sport.
‘I have wanted to be the best or at least I have wanted to strive to try to be the best. But that has never led me to have an obsession with it. My desire has always been as a personal challenge, of wanting to be the best due to my own motivation and improvement. I believe in having a good and great ambition, but at the same time healthy. And I said it the other day when I was talking to Federer.
‘Yes, it’s true that when you’re in the middle of your career and competing, you want to win. But you get to the end of your career and, honestly, I’m not even the slightest bit more satisfied than Federer for having 22 (Grand Slam titles) and me 20. And I don’t think I’d be any more satisfied or happy if I were 25, one more than Djokovic’s 24. I say this from the heart.’
What Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer said about one another
Although Novak Djokovic makes up the third, and most successful of the trio, it is Roger Federer and Nadal’s rivalry, and subsequent bromance, that truly dominates the tennis landscape.
And this is a notion that the Spaniard echoes, noting: ‘I’ve played Djokovic more than anyone else, but for me, my biggest rival was Federer.
‘When I came onto the circuit, Federer was already there, and he was the first. In the prime years of my career, it was Roger and Novak. But in those early years, which are so impactful, it was always Roger.’
The Swiss superstar has always thought similarly, having stated in 2020 after Nadal equalled his record of 20 Grand Slams: ‘I hope 20 is just another step on the continuing journey for both of us.
‘As my greatest rival over many years, I believe we have pushed each other to become better players.
‘Therefore, it is a true honour for me to congratulate him on his 20th Grand Slam victory. It is especially amazing that he has now won Roland Garros an incredible 13 times, which is one of the greatest achievements in sport.’
Federer was naturally emotional once again when Nadal announced his retirement.
It’s clear that the respect between them far outweighed any ferocity within their rivalry, and how their relationship has blossomed off the court could warm the heart of the coldest tennis fan.
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