Spanish legend Rafael Nadal makes a surprising confession after his retirement from tennis

While Spain has produced many standout tennis players, Rafael Nadal stands unmatched as the country’s greatest tennis icon. The all-time leader in Roland Garros titles retired from professional tennis in October 2024, and he recently revealed a surprising detail about his life post-tennis.

Nadal attended an event organized by the Spanish Olympic Committee in Madrid, where he was honored by athletes from various sports and generations. During the event, Nadal admitted that he hasn’t picked up a tennis racket since retiring but has instead been playing soccer.

“I’ve gone back to playing soccer a little after 15 years, and that’s been a joy. I haven’t picked up a racket,” Nadal admitted. “You have to give it time. When I stopped playing, I had issues with my foot for a while, which made me stop completely. But I’ll be back. It takes some time to disconnect, but I’ll definitely pick it up again“.

Although Nadal admitted he hasn’t returned to tennis yet, he left the door open for a future return. He emphasized that his life will always revolve around sports, as they remain an integral part of his identity.

Rafael Nadal waves to fans following his retirement speech following the quarterfinal tie between Netherlands and Spain during the Davis Cup. (Matt McNulty/Getty Images for ITF)

“I’m a big sports fan. Before being an athlete, I’ve always been a supporter of sports,” Nadal added. “My life will always be tied to sports because they’re fundamental to me. In what way, I’m not sure yet. I’ve just finished my career. There’s another life after sports, and I’m working on finding personal motivation in my day-to-day life”.

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Nadal opens another tennis academy

The Spanish star announced the opening of a new “Rafa Nadal Tennis Center” in Marbella, Spain. This marks the seventh sports facility worldwide to adopt Nadal’s signature training methodology. These centers are a complement to the flagship Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca.

“I’m very happy to officially announce the launch of a new Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Marbella, as it strengthens the expansion of our methodology within Spain as well,” Nadal said during the unveiling. “I’m confident that sports fans will enjoy our programs and these incredible facilities”.