Retirement, fight with Djokovic and president of Real Madrid: Rafael Nadal talks about his present and his future

On May 19, Rafael Nadal announced that he would leave professional tennis in 2024. His injuries forced him to end a career in which he won 22 Grand Slam tournaments and was recognized as the one of the best in history. Four months later, the Spaniard has spoken honestly about his recovery and warned that next season may not be the end of the road.

“I’m not sure what I’ll do in 2024, because the way I approach the year completely changes depending on whether I have one goal or another. . If I don’t recover, that’s one thing, if I can compete at a level that I’m passionate about, that’s another… Either way, in that case, I would play. But not with the timetable I would like. I still don’t need to answer that,” was one of his first statements in the interview with Movistar +.

Reflection which was accompanied by a deepening, because even if he has not played a professional tournament since January and admits that the option of a great is complex, Nadal cannot help but think of a 15th Musketeers Cup. “The hope is not to come back and win at Roland Garros or in Australia, so as not to be mistaken . I am aware that the time in which I find myself in my life is very distant. “I’m not saying impossible, I’ve said it a thousand times, because in sport, things change very quickly,” he added.

He also admitted in passing that being in Paris 2024 is a dream that he has a lot in mind. “The Olympics are a nice finishing touch if you want to be competitive. My schedule changes if I feel like I have the opportunity to play and win at Roland Garros “, he emphasizes.

Another topic addressed by Nadal is the advantage obtained by Novak Djokovic in terms of majors. With his trophy in New York, the Serbian reached his 24th crown in these events, bringing the distance with the Spaniard to two, who specifies that this does not complicate him. “I am not frustrated for a simple reason: within the limits of my possibilities, I did everything to make things go as well as possible for me. Yes, you can live frustrated with 22 Grand Slam tournaments. For example, Novak experiences it more intensely. For him, it would have been a greater frustration not to achieve this record. Maybe that’s why he got it “, a point.

Nadal, who has used the last few weeks to compete in golf, also admitted that his stop in the operating room was not just to treat the complication he started having in Melbourne in January. “In addition to the psoas, on June 2 I had hip surgery. My psoas was very serious and surgery was the only solution. . They told me that if I didn’t have surgery, I wouldn’t recover even if I stopped for a long time. I made the decision and the operation went well, but it took a long time. I’ve been on vacation for five weeks with only the gym,” he said.

This is why he says he also sets a date to evaluate his body. Exercise that will tell you what your next steps will be. “I hope that in two months, in mid-November, I will have the clarity to say let’s see where I am. How am I doing physically, especially how is the injury going? . These are the deadlines we have set for ourselves. Before, I am in a recovery process, I train 40 minutes three days a week. It’s my daily life and I work many hours in the gym and in recovery. Will this be my last year? Did I plan it like that? Well, what if it doesn’t? What if suddenly, after a long break, the body recovers and I feel strong and energetic to continue? Why should I tell one lie and then tell another? I am careful, when I know the answer, I will say it. I live day by day with the illusion of having the possibility of deciding,” he said.

The interview also focused on Real Madrid, a club Nadal is a fan of and where he has always been linked with a possible role in administration. The Spaniard admits that there is interest, but that nothing is concrete.

“If I want to be president of Real Madrid? I don’t know. I promise it’s not a dream, but I think I’d like it. But there are many things. Today we have the best president possible. Then, what you think today may not be what you think tomorrow. And after that, life takes many turns. Plus, you have to know if you’re qualified to do what kind of things,” he said.

“I am realistic with myself, I know my limits and in that I don’t know if I would be capable of it or not, time will tell. Florentino never asked me, I think you make films. I don’t think I meet the conditions to apply, I’m an honorary member but that’s it» he condemned.

Finally, he mentioned the frustrated signing of Kylian Mbappé for the Merengue team. “I wait for him with open arms, I have no problem with him, quite the contrary . Glad you came. Of course I love him, I just miss him. Who doesn’t like that? I don’t blame him for not coming yet. What obligation did I have to come? » he concluded.