Rafael Nadal shares candid revelation of what he’s going to ‘miss the most’ about being a professional tennis player

Rafael Nadal admits stepping on the court for a competitive tournament is completely different when playing in an exhibition match.

Rafael Nadal shares candid revelation of what he’s going to ‘miss the most’ about being a professional tennis player

Rafael Nadal (Image via X)

Rafael Nadal recently stepped away from professional tennis after enjoying a legendary two-decade-long career on the court. The Spaniard left an enduring legacy to upcoming generations on how to be successful in the sport. However, there are things he misses about tennis, and he recently talked about them.

Nadal played his final tennis match at the Davis Cup Finals last month. Unfortunately, it ended in defeat for the 38-year-old after he lost in straight sets to Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp. That eventually became a mountain to climb for Spain and led the Dutch to narrowly win 2-1 in the quarter-final tie.

After almost a month of Nadal remaining quiet following his remaining, he finally gave fans some things to note about his career.

In a piece he wrote for the Players’ Tribune, Nadal detailed what he felt whenever he stepped on the tennis court. Nadal also shared that he’s open to competing in exhibition matches in the future, but he understands that the feeling won’t be like the way playing a competitive tournament is.

That feeling, the inner fire, and the nerves, the adrenaline of walking out and seeing a full court, is a sensation that is very difficult to describe. It is a sensation that only a few can understand, and something that I am sure will never be the same now that I am retiring as a professional. There still will be those moments playing exhibitions and maybe other sports, too. I will always compete and try to give the best I can, but it won’t be the same feeling as walking out in front of the fans at any given stadium.

Rafael Nadal said via Players’ Tribune

However, Nadal hasn’t revealed much about his future in tennis, but is likely to take a break from the sport right away. With the multiple injuries he suffered while competing in the sport, there’s a certainty he will be returning to the court in a more casual setting.

Rafael Nadal picks three most unforgettable victories in his career

Rafael Nadal is regarded as the greatest clay-court player in the history of tennis. The Spaniard won 64 clay titles, including 14 French Open, 11 Monte Carlo Masters, 12 Barcelona Open, and 10 Italian Open titles. He earned one of the greatest records on the surface by winning 81 consecutive matches from April 2005 to May 2007.

Rafael Nadal (4)
Rafael Nadal (Image via X)

In the aforementioned piece he wrote, Nadal revealed his top three unforgettable moments on the court. The Spaniard pointed out that winning the 2008 Wimbledon Championship after defeating Roger Federer in a five-set thriller was one of the moments of joy.

Tennis is a sport that demands a lot from you mentally, but there are many moments of joy that I will never forget. The Davis Cup in 2004, Roland-Garros in 2005, of course Wimbledon in 2008. But then there’s my first US Open, and when I completed the Grand Slam tournaments circle in Melbourne. And I don’t forget those tournaments like Madrid and Barcelona in my country, or Indian Wells in Miami, or Cincinnati, where I won for the first time in 2013.

Rafael Nadal said

Without an iota of doubt, the tennis world is going to look a lot different with Nadal on the court or in a tournament’s draw. And his presence will be heavily felt from next season and in the future.