Rafael Nadal: "Then you are either super arrogant or a dreamer"
Rafael Nadal is currently preparing for the 2023 season together with Casper Ruud as part of an exhibition tour through South America. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is also busy answering questions there.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Nov 24, 2022, 10:38 pm
Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud take a different approach to pre-season than most of their competitors. Namely those across the Atlantic towards South America. Instead of getting the finishing touches for the coming season at exhibition events in the Middle East - such as in Dubai - like a not insignificant part of the world elite, the duo is touring through Argentina and Co in order to travel to Australia in good competitive form.
In South America, specifically in Argentina, the two world-class players are accordingly welcomed with open arms. Even if the atmosphere was a bit on the back burner given the sensational defeat of the home national team against Saudi Arabia. But only until Nadal and Ruud entered the square and showed off their class. In the end, Nadal was ahead with 7: 6 (8) and 6: 2, as in the Nitto ATP Finals.
Nadal shows humility par excellence
Afterwards, Nadal first tried to calm things down after the bitter opening defeat of the Argentine national team: "I think the world hasn't changed compared to ten hours ago, only one game was lost, two are still to come," said the Spaniard, who - by his own admission - is not a fan of extremes, both positively and negatively."The least this team deserves is respect and trust," stressed the Mallorquin.
Nadal has had a penchant for humility since a young age. When asked if he could have imagined such a career right from the start, the 36-year-old made it crystal clear: "If you're thinking of achieving all this at 18, you're either super arrogant or a dreamer. Me "I'm not one of them. I'm one of those people who live this sport day in and day out, build their future on hard work but live in the present with the best attitude," Nadal said.
Nadal does not think of an imminent end
And for the Spaniard, this presence clearly means an active career in the rut of the ATP circus: "I'm a realistic person, the moment will come when the time comes. I'm prepared for my new life away from tennis, I think not that it will be a problem for me," said the 22-time Grand Slam winner. "There are many important things in my life outside of tennis that make me happy. Tennis was an important part of my life, but there are others who are just as important," said Spanier, only to immediately reject an early retirement. "I don't think my end will come anytime soon. Not at all."
Even if the development that tennis has taken in recent years does not quite correspond to the Mallorcan's ideas: "In my personal opinion, I would like to see a tennis sport that offers more possibilities, more different styles of play. Today, because of the type and The way the courts and balls are made, most of them play a very similar style," Nadal said. The high speed makes it increasingly difficult to play really tactically and thoughtfully. "Everything moves too fast to do anything else, to have the time to think.” According to Nadal, tennis has changed quite a bit compared to when it started.