Rafael Nadal has opened up about his life after retiring from competitive tennis a year ago, stating he has “gained peace” without the daily pressure to perform.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently returned to the court for a 45-minute practice session with his academy prodigy, 20-year-old Alexandra Eala, joking that playing was fine “if I don’t have to run.”
In an interview with Movistar+, Nadal said he misses the “adrenaline” of competing at the highest level but appreciates the freedom from constant stress.
He also reflected on the historic “Big Three” era (Nadal, Federer, Djokovic), attributing its success to the relentless competition: “We never stopped pushing each other… The demand was maximum. That’s the greatness of our era.”
