However whereas he would possibly miss the sport he has loved record-breaking success in, he could also be glad to see the again of press conferences.
The Spaniard has received 22 grand slams, together with an unimaginable 14 French Open titles, and is ready to retire as one of many biggest singles gamers within the males’s sport.
However with tons of of video games performed means he has been requested many, many questions by the world’s media – and has not at all times been within the temper to humour a reporter’s nonsense.
Listed below are a few of Nadal’s biggest hits, off the courtroom and within the press room.
“I believe it’s a joke”
Nadal has usually had a great relationship with the press – however sometimes frosty questions have led him to hit again or, on this case, lowered him to laughter.
On the US Open in 2022, a reporter requested if umpires weren’t implementing a rule meaning he has to serve inside 25 seconds and if this was a “stain on his legacy”.
“I believe it’s a joke,” a laughing Nadal replied. “I’ve by no means smashed rackets or made a multitude on courtroom, however I’ve an issue that I’m sweating quite a bit and when it’s a timed factor… we don’t have the ball boys coming to you so it’s important to go to the far finish of the courtroom to get a towel.”
“Not attention-grabbing at this time”
Nadal was in a extra playful temper on the Australian Open in 2019 when he ribbed a journalist who had apparently rested her eyes earlier than answering a query.
“I do know you closed your eyes to be extra centered on what I used to be saying,” Nadal instructed the snoozing reporter.
“It’s not attention-grabbing at this time,” he added.
“Truthfully, are you asking me this?”
Nadal was irate that he was requested if he was dropping focus on tennis as a result of he had just lately obtained married.
“Truthfully, are you asking me this?” he shot again, including he had been with the identical accomplice for a few years. “I’m shocked you’re asking this after being with the identical woman 15 years.”
“We will’t predict the longer term”
At Wimbledon in 2019, Nadal was requested if his sport – an easy victory – ought to have had lesser billing than that of ladies’s world primary, Ash Barty.
Nadal had been given the Centre Court docket and Barty had been knocked out on a lesser courtroom.
“She is the world primary,” the journalist probed.
“I’m the world quantity two and I’ve received 18 grand slams,” mentioned Nadal in return. “We can not predict the longer term… they decide, my feeling is that I’m just a little greater than Ashley Barty. On the finish of the day they should decide, each selections are good.”
“I don’t wish to appear like I wish to be his boyfriend”
Nadal had a curt and reducing reply when a reporter dared to ask what he appreciated most about Roger Federer as a participant and “as a person off the courtroom”.
“I don’t wish to appear like I wish to be his boyfriend,” responded Nadal because the US Open press room descended into laughter in 2017.
Graciously, Nadal did then listing his favorite qualities of Federer, his very long time rival.
