Rafael Nadal makes blunt admission about tennis after recent retirement

Rafael Nadal is little than a twelvemonth into retirement, and the 22-time Grand Slam champion is showing nary signs of regret. 

Speaking to the media astatine the Laureus World Sports Awards successful Madrid connected Monday night, Nadal was frank astir his clip distant from the courts. The Spanish fable said helium doesn’t miss playing, and his crushed is due to the fact that helium near the crippled feeling "happy."

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a constituent during his lucifer against Alexander Zverev of Germany connected time 2 of Roland Garros astatine Stade Roland Garros connected May 27, 2024. (Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports)

"The information is I don't miss it. In fact, I miss it zero," helium said, via CBS Sports. "But I miss it zero not due to the fact that I finished bushed of tennis oregon warring against tennis. Not astatine all, the implicit opposite. I finished blessed with tennis."

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Nadal, 38, is mostly considered 1 of the top of each clip and had for decades competed alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for immoderate of tennis’ fiercest battles connected the large stage. "The Big Three," arsenic they became known as, person collectively earned 66 Grand Slam singles titles betwixt them. 

Only Djokovic remains active. 

Nadal announced his status from the athletics successful October aft injuries hampered the second fractional of his career. 

Rafael Nadal plays against Novak Djokovic (SRB) successful the men’s tennis sinlges archetypal circular during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games astatine Stade Roland Garros connected July 29, 2024. (Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports)

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"It is evidently a hard decision, 1 that has taken maine immoderate clip to make," helium said successful his status announcement. "But, successful this life, everything has a opening and an end. And I deliberation it’s the due clip to enactment an extremity to a vocation that has been agelong and overmuch much palmy than I could person ever imagined."

Nadal did adhd Monday, that contempt not missing anything, if helium were inactive steadfast today, helium would inactive beryllium playing. 

"If it had been possible, I would inactive beryllium playing due to the fact that I loved what I did," helium said, according to the report. "I was passionate astir it, and it's been similar that my full life. It's conscionable that erstwhile you recognize you can't bash it anymore, you effort to adjacent that chapter. And I closed it."

Rafael Nadal waves to the assemblage aft losing to Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram (USA) successful a men's doubles quarterfinal tennis lucifer during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games astatine Stade Roland Garros connected July 31, 2024. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

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Nadal has won a grounds 14 French Open titles, the U.S. Open 4 times and won doubly astatine the Australian Open and Wimbledon, respectively. He racked up golden medals successful 2008 successful Beijing and 2016 successful Rio de Janeiro.

His status followed Federer’s successful 2022. 

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. 

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