ATP: Rafael Nadal cannot imagine life as a coach at the moment
In an interview with the airline Iberia, the 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal ponders whether he might want to work as a coach one day.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit: Jul 21, 2022, 02:43 pm
We know the saying, which has actually been proven many times: Not every successful player is also a successful coach. With the caliber of Rafael Nadal, it is hard to imagine that the record Grand Slam champion would not be just as good a teacher for future generations as he is a true expert on the tennis court.
The "bull from Manacor" told the Spanish airline "Iberia" what his medium-term future could look like after the end of his career is approaching for their in-flight magazine and the associated website. "What is certain is that one day I will be a former elite athlete. But I will always be an athlete because sport is my passion and I will continue to do it as long as my body allows."
"Never say never"
The Mallorcan would certainly like to get more involved in his "Rafael Nadal Academy" in the future, where the next generation of tennis players will be trained. "I hope to devote more time to her than I do now as I continue to compete and travel the world. There are players of all types at the academy and I hope that a future tennis star is already among us."
Whether he would like to retire from his active professional career as a committed tennis coach seems rather unrealistic at the moment: "I don't know if I would be the ideal person to coach a player... At the moment I can I can't imagine. But what is the well-known saying: 'Never say never'".