Rafael Nadal and the Grand Slam record: "I'm not obsessed with it"
Rafael Nadal wants to get his 21st major title in Melbourne - that could overtake Roger Federer. So far, "Rafa" has only won the Australian Open once, in 2009. The all-time record? But it's not that important to him.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 29, 2021, 04:43 pm
"Thanks to tennis, I was able to experience things that I would never have dreamed of," said Nadal in an interview on CNN . "When it comes to tennis, I try to do it my own way: I try to do my best every day to become a better player. To go to the training court every day with the aim of improving something."
Of course records are important, of course he is a competitor. "But I've never been obsessed with being the best. I've always just been focused on doing my best. If that gives me the opportunity to play the most important things, I want to - great. But for me it is important to come home after the season and think: Okay, I'm tired, I've done everything I could. "
Nadal doesn't make his luck dependent on Grand Slam victories
He has achieved more than he ever dreamed of, "and of course it would be great to win another Grand Slam title and end up being the player with the most Grand Slams. But that won't be the key "How happy I will be in my future. It's about trying, every day, at every tournament, but that's not extra pressure on me, not an obsession. I do it my way: when it happens - great." If not, I'm more than happy about what happened to me too. "
His special relationship with the closest competitors, such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic? "I had a good relationship with most of my teammates - at least from my side I can feel that," said the 34-year-old. "With Novak and Roger - we've always had a great relationship, we've done great things together for our sport. We push ourselves to become better. Having someone in front of you who does things better than you give you a clear path what you have to improve in order to achieve a goal. That was the case with Roger and me, and later also with Novak, "said Nadal.
Who of course also knows about his role as a professional athlete when he opens his mouth. "As athletes and people in the public, we have a responsibility. We have to be role models, send out the right messages - to the world and especially to young people. So we have to think before we say something, because a lot of people look at what we are doing to do."