Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal is poised to ride off into the sunset after retiring from tennis. The 22-time Grand Slam champion played the final match of his career on Tuesday after Spain bowed out of the Davis Cup quarter-finals against the Netherlands.
He’ll hang up his racket and enjoy a well-earned respite with his wife, Xisca, and two-year-old son, Rafael Jr. The tennis icon has endeavoured to keep certain aspects of his personal life just that, and his partner has always been eager to not steal his spotlight.
However, certain questions regarding Nadal’s private affairs have overstepped the mark. But both he and his loved ones look set to embrace his second chapter in retirement after closing the book on one of the greatest careers in the history of sport.
X-rated response
One unfortunate reporter found himself on Nadal’s bad side after suggesting his 2019 marriage to long-term partner Xisca could be considered a distraction. The question came in the wake of his defeat to Alexander Zverev at the 2019 ATP Finals, to which the 38-year-old had to ask if the journalist was being serious.
“Okay. I’m surprised, it’s a big surprise for me you ask me this after I have been with the same girl for 15 years and having a very stable and normal life,” said the Spaniard in anger. “Doesn’t matter if you put a ring on your finger or not. In my personal way, I am a very normal guy.”
Nadal joked the journalist in question – who would soon celebrate his 30th wedding anniversary – perhaps wasn’t sure about his spouse prior to their big day. However, his next comment hinted at his frustration as he cut the line of questioning.
“Okay. We move to Spanish, because that’s bulls***,” he continued. “Thank you very much.”
Xisca’s tennis position
Although she’s heavily involved with his tennis foundation and general affairs, Nadal’s partner of 17 years has always tried to keep her distance from centre stage. Many fans have often wondered why Xisca isn’t sighted at her spouse’s matches as often as certain counterparts, but she explained the logic behind her absence in succinct fashion.
“He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around and waiting on his needs all day tires me out,” she told The Telegraph in 2011. “It would asphyxiate me.
“And then he would have to be worrying about me… No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there’s a risk we might stop getting along.”
Post-retirement plans
Having called time on one of the most remarkable stories in tennis history, talk now turns to what lies in store for Nadal post-retirement. The Mallorca native is a big fishing fan and regularly golfs, but there is one business endeavour he may consider, according to uncle Toni.
“If they offer him the position of director of Madrid, he will surely say yes,” Nadal’s former coach told Marca. “He likes football, but he doesn’t understand why my team, which is Barca, touches it, passes it… He has his life focused, he has an academy and he will get more involved.”
Nadal had previously confessed himself that he’d like to succeed Florentino Perez as president of his beloved Real Madrid. And the club could perhaps do a lot worse if athletic credentials were enough to go on.