Rafael Nadal Reveals If He’s Interested in Coaching Job in Near Future

Rafael Nadal last lifted a title at the 2022 French Open and called time on his storied career two years later.

Rafael Nadal Reveals If He’s Interested in Coaching Job in Near Future

Rafael Nadal (image via Corrine Dubreuil)

Rafael Nadal hung up his racket at the Davis Cup last year after Spain lost their quarterfinal match against the Netherlands in November. Last year, Andy Murray too retired, in the Paris Olympics.

And four months afterward, he joined longtime rival Novak Djokovic‘s team as his coach. But Nadal won’t be following in the Brit’s footsteps as he is not considering coaching a player but he did not rule out the possibility of it in the future.

I don’t see myself as a coach today. I have too many things going on to think about that. Tennis is part of my life and I’m not saying no to what might happen in a few years.

Rafael Nadal said (via NDL Pro-Health YouTube Channel)

Nadal last lifted a Grand Slam title at the 2022 French Open and he ended up missing the rest of the 2023 season after suffering an injury during the Australian Open. Last year, he played his career’s final French Open where eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev knocked him out in the first round.

Nadal’s last match on clay was against Djokovic in the second round of the Paris Olympics. He was present in this year’s French Open as well for his retirement ceremony on day one.

Gilles Simon calls Rafael Nadal a genius

Gilles Simon had faced Rafael Nadal nine times from which he could win just one match. Against Roger Federer, he trailed 2-7 in the head-to-head matchups. During an interview with RG Media and CLAY, Daniil Medvedev‘s former coach compared Nadal and Federer and shared why he thinks the former is a genius.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Image via Game, Set & Talk)

In my generation, people said Roger was way more talented than Rafa, who just relied on physicality. But Rafa was winning matches at 16—that means he was learning faster than everyone else. If you hand him a golf club, he plays well. He’s good with football too—because he’s a genius.

The former World No.6 retired in 2022. His best Grand Slam performance came in 2009 and 2015, when he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the Wimbledon Championships, respectively.

Federer, on the other hand, was the first member of the legendary Big 3 to call time on his career. He retired at the 2022 Laver Cup. Only Djokovic from this trio is still an active player and will bid for his 25th Major at Wimbledon which starts on June 30.

Carlos Alcaraz matches Rafael Nadal’s career achievement

Nadal in his career lifted 92 singles titles, 25 of which he won on hard courts and 63 on clay. Only four titles he won on grass.

Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros
Carlos Alcaraz (image via Roland Garros)

These grass-court titles were: the 2008 Queen’s Club Championships and Wimbledon, 2010 Wimbledon, and the 2015 Stuttgart Open. Nadal captured his fourth grass-court title at 29 and compatriot Feliciano Lopez became a four-time champion on the surface at the age of 37.

But Carlos Alcaraz lifted his fourth at 22. He is just the third man from Spain after Lopez and Nadal to win four titles on grass after beating Jiri Lehecka in the Queen’s Club final.

The five-time Grand Slam champion captured his first grass-court title at the 2023 Queen’s Club Championships. He doubled that tally by beating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final that season. Last year, although he lost to Jack Draper in Queen’s second round, he registered his second consecutive win over Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

Alcaraz also joined Nadal when he defended his French Open crown by overcoming Jannik Sinner. He became the third youngest man to reach the five Grand Slam titles tally after Bjorn Borg and Nadal. The Murcia native is gearing up for Wimbledon where he will also bid to win his sixth title of the season.

Also read: Taylor Fritz Opens Up About His Strict Upbringing and How He’s Breaking the Cycle With His Son