Rafael Nadal, the indomitable tennis giant, once confessed to being prepared to “die on the court.” At just 18, he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome, an infrequent foot ailment that threatened to cut his promising career short. Yet, Nadal didn’t bow down; he pushed his limits and evolved into a 22-time Grand Slam champion. In a recent podcast appearance, Nadal peeled back the layers on his illustrious career, his riveting rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, his struggle with injuries, and ultimately, his decision to retire.
Nadal graced the podcast ‘Served’ hosted by Andy Roddick on March 11, delving into his career highs and lows. He revealed his knack for bouncing back from injuries: “I quickly forget what happened. I was able to return to the court, practice with the intensity that I needed, and I believe I regained the physical intensity quite rapidly. My tennis level was not a significant issue for me most of the time.”
At 38, Nadal’s tennis journey was marred by injuries that began with his foot. His customized shoes, a necessity due to his foot condition, inadvertently put extra pressure on his knees and back. Despite this, he competed in 69 out of 83 Grand Slams, missing 14 due to injuries but clinching 22. Nadal championed the art of living with pain, exemplifying resilience and determination on and off the court. His former World No.1 status is a testament to his tenacity.
His battle with pain was legendary. He clinched a win at Indian Wells despite a cracked rib, conquered Paris on crutches with a numbed left foot, and overcame a torn abdominal muscle at Wimbledon. Nadal’s approach to his career was unwavering: “When you have limitations all the time, you start thinking, ‘Okay, how do I beat this guy?’ You take risks that you wouldn’t ordinarily take or make decisions you wouldn’t normally make.”
However, as Nadal’s struggles continued, his interest in tennis began to wane. The turning point came during a second-round match at the 2023 Australian Open. A sharp hip pain cut short his title defense at Melbourne Park. Despite trying to avoid surgery for five months, it became inevitable. The surgery was successful, but Nadal missed the rest of the 2023 season. His return in 2024 was marred by a muscle injury that forced him to miss the Australian Open, and he wasn’t the same after that.
Despite playing 16 matches during the clay season, Nadal struggled with movement and his serve wasn’t as lethal as before. He candidly admitted on the podcast, “I was not able to move the way that I was used to move. So arrived a moment that after Olympics, I come back home and then say, okay, it’s over. I feel it.”
Nadal’s illustrious career defined by resilience finally ended at the Davis Cup in Malaga at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena in November 2024. Since then, he has been living a life away from tennis, pain-free, and without picking up a racket. His retirement marked the end of an era that saw him defy odds, set records, and inspire millions with his indomitable spirit.
