However whereas he may 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 gained 22 grand slams, together with an unbelievable 14 French Open titles, and is about to retire as one of many best singles gamers within the males’s sport.
However with a whole lot 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 best hits, off the courtroom and within the press room.
“I feel it’s a joke”
Nadal has typically had a superb relationship with the press – however sometimes frosty questions have led him to hit again or, on this case, decreased him to laughter.
On the US Open in 2022, a reporter requested if umpires weren’t imposing a rule which means he has to serve inside 25 seconds and if this was a “stain on his legacy”.
“I feel it’s a joke,” a laughing Nadal replied. “I’ve by no means smashed rackets or made a large number on courtroom, however I’ve an issue that I’m sweating so much 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 fascinating at the moment”
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 fascinating at the moment,” 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 lady 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 gained 18 grand slams,” mentioned Nadal in return. “We can’t 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 must decide, each selections are good.”
“I don’t need to appear to be I need to be his boyfriend”
Nadal had a curt and slicing 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 need to appear to be I need to be his boyfriend,” responded Nadal because the US Open press room descended into laughter in 2017.
Graciously, Nadal did then record his favorite qualities of Federer, his very long time rival.
