Rafael Nadal shares retirement wish and admits Roger Federer quitting tennis was ‘hard'
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer's rivalry will go down as the stuff of tennis legend.
Nadal has a chance encounter with Serena Williams in June
Rafael Nadal has admitted he’d love to retire from tennis on the court - and has revealed he found Roger Federer quitting the sport ‘hard’. Both players had a stunning rivalry when they were competing for the world’s biggest titles. And Nadal has won more Grand Slam titles than his old foe, with the pair growing closer in recent years.
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Federer announced his retirement back in September, with the Swiss star quitting at the Laver Cup at the age of 41.
It was a poignant moment for tennis fans, with the veteran bowing out after a glittering career that saw him win 20 Grand Slam titles.
While Federer has left tennis behind, however, Nadal is still going strong with the Spaniard looking ahead to the Australian Open next month.
And, speaking to Marca, the 36-year-old has now admitted that he’d love to retire on the court - but admitted he still wasn’t looking to hang up his racket just yet.
“It is that I do not visualise it,” said Nadal. “Roger's retirement was a sad and exciting day at the same time.
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“I think he is one of the great icons in the history of sport in general, so it was a hard moment, and not only as a rival and partner but as a tennis lover.
“It is that the same thing happened with Pau (Gasol) or Zidane and it will happen to me with [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo].
“They're people you've grown up with for a lifetime, sharing moments and watching them on TV, making them almost like family. And when they retire, like Roger did, you know you're never going to see them play again.
“As for my retirement, I don't visualise it for a simple fact, because I'm not one to try to guess, predict or prepare the future, because things change very quickly, right?
“I know that moment is closer than last year, without a doubt, and two years ago. That is pure logic.
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“But in the end it is something that when it has to happen, it will happen. I would like it to be on a tennis court, yes.”
Nadal is a huge Real Madrid supporter, with the tennis icon watching the La Liga giants in action whenever he can.
But, when quizzed on a possible match with Carlos Alcaraz once the Bernabeu’s renovation is complete, he was coy on the matter.
“I am not in a position to talk about it,” he said, with Alcaraz now recognised as one of the best players on the planet.
Some have suggested Nadal could call it a day after the Olympics in Paris in 2014, with the 36-year-old already winning gold on two occasions so far.
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The first was in Beijing, in 2008, while he also won in doubles while playing with Marc Lopez in 2016.
When asked about retiring at the next tournament, he said: “Well, I don't know. I really don't see it.
“There is also another issue and that is that when you start to think a lot about retirement you are already entering that dynamic and I am not at that point.”
Nadal will be among the frontrunners to win the Australian Open when the tournament commences next month, having reigned supreme twice Down Under in the past.
He beat Federer in 2008, with that final memorable for all who witnessed it.
And Nadal got the better of Daniil Medvedev earlier this year, recovering from two sets down to go all the way.
Nadal does, however, think Djokovic and other players on the tour are capable of winning the trophy. Speaking recently, he said: “Obviously, someone who has won a tournament nine times is a candidate.
“But there are many young people who push and they are open tournaments.”
Asked whether winning more Grand Slams was his aim for next year, he stated: “The objectives and the level and the tennis state will set my objectives.
“My objective is to be competitive in everything I play.”
