Rafael Nadal on Grand Slam races: "Nothing I'm obsessed with"
In an interview with Dubai Eye Sports 103.8,Rafael Nadal talks about his future as an active tennis player and about the hunt for most Grand Slam titles.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Feb 23, 2020, 05:19 pm
Team Federer, Team Nadal or Team Djokovic - the question is the same: who of the big three will it be that will end his active tennis career with the most Grand Slam titles of all time? Roger Federer is currently on the top podium with 20 titles, followed closely by Rafael Nadal with 19, Novak Djokovic in third place with 17 Grand Slam titles. Gradually, the protagonists of this competition are now expressing how important this rating is to them.
While Roger Federer maintains that it is okay for the Spaniard to overtake him in the near future, Novak Djokovic says: "Trying to become historical number one is a big goal." In the course of opening his academy in Kuwait Rafael Nadal now also talks to Dubai Eye Sports 103.8 in this case: "Of course I would find it great to stop with most Grand Slam titles, but it is not something that I am obsessed with. To be honest, I'm super happy with my tennis career. And when Roger or Novak is in front of me, life goes on. I won't be more or less happy about that in ten years. "
This competition does not in any way poison the climate among the three, Rafael Nadal confirmed in the interview. The Mallorcan is in constant contact with his big competitors, and even maintain a friendship with both. "We have been doing the same thing for such a long time and we love what we do. We just try to do things that can help promote tennis around the world," says the 33-year-old many similarities among the three dominators of the past few years.
The 19 Grand Slam titles, the 209 weeks at the top of the world rankings, the Olympic gold in singles and doubles - despite all the successes, Rafael Nadal has not lost one virtue: fully motivated to go into every game. In conversation with the Arabic medium, the Spaniard explains what motivates him every day: "First of all, the passion for what I do. I like playing tennis, I like the competition and I am happy with it what I'm doing. When I get to the point where my body doesn't feel good anymore, the time has come to say goodbye. "
Rafael Nadal as a coach at some point?
And it will definitely be a "reunion" if Rafael Nadal is no longer a player on the tour. The 19-time Grand Slam champion could well imagine returning as a coach: "I have to run a tennis academy, but why not, I plan to spend my future in this beautiful sport. So why not, me will definitely be in the world of tennis even then - it is an important part of my life. "
Until then, the 33-year-old still has a lot to do, especially the Olympic Games in the summer of this year. As a Spanish media reported, the Spaniard considers this event to be extremely important and even plans to start in all three disciplines: "Of course, the Olympic Games are the most important event in the world of every sport. I hope and I look forward to being ready to attend this event. " And in Tokyo, too, it will probably be Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer once again who will contest the gold medal for the Mallorcan.