eBusiness Weekly
Rafael Nadal says he is ready for post-tennis life as he underlined that tennis is not the only important thing in his life. Nadal (36) had another injury-plagued season in 2022, but still, he was able to win two Grand Slams.
Last month, Nadal became a father for the first time in his life. Due to injuries and parenthood, some feel Nadal may now be tempted more than ever to conclude his astonishing in the foreseeable future. “My time will come when it has to come.
“I’m quite prepared for my next life outside tennis. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for me beyond what will be an adaptation to the changes. My life has things equally or more important than tennis,” Nadal said, as quoted on Eurosport.
Nadal on Roger Federer’s retirement
In late September, Federer’s great career came to an end at the Laver Cup. In the final match of Federer’s career, Nadal and the Swiss teamed up for a doubles match. Reflecting on Federer’s retirement, Nadal admitted that Federer was a very important part of his career.
“There are many experiences together, important moments shared in our lives as rivals and team-mates. People have feelings and understand this sport for what it is, a sport. When you have a rival like Federer, throughout your career — because when I started Roger was already there, it’s true I played more matches with Novak than with Roger, but I started it with him (Federer).
“Due to our contrasting styles and personalities, due to affinity, in some way we have shared so much. Someone I have admired, who I have rivalled and also I have shared many beautiful things on and off the court was leaving.
“In that sense, all those moments, those feelings you have before playing a final of a Grand Slam, of an important tournament, everything that was in the air before those matches.
“It was different from other matches. You know you’re not going to live that again and a part of my life left with him (when he retired).
“It was also the emotion of saying goodbye to someone who has been so important to our sport,” Nadal said of Federer’s retirement.
Rafael Nadal lost his first match during the South American tour. The 22-time Major champion lost to Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in Quito, experiencing his first defeat against the Norwegian after beating him in Buenos Aires and Belo Horizonte.
Situated almost 3 000 metres above sea level, Quito was one of the fastest tennis tournaments in the world while hosting the ATP event for four years. A couple of years later, tennis fans in the Ecuadorian capital had the opportunity to see two of the best players in the world.
Ruud played better in the fast conditions and beat his good friend in straight sets. Casper broke early in the first set and prevailed on his serve in the tenth game 6-4. Casper held the first game of the second set with a service winner, and Rafa clinched the second game with an ace to make it 1-1.
Ruud fired an ace to close out the third game, and Nadal responded with a forehand winner in the next to level the score at 2-2. The Roland Garros runner-up and the US Open runner-up went for a serve and volley combo in the fifth game before Rafa forced his opponent’s error a few minutes later for 3-3.
Game seven went to deuce, and Casper closed it out with two winners to stay ahead. A kid played a couple of points in place of Rafa, and the Spaniard fired a powerful forehand winner to close it out. Nadal served to stay in the set at 4-5 and added a forehand error to hand the victory to Ruud.
In his previous match in Belo Horizonte, Rafa won 7-6, 7-5 after playing better at crucial moments. Ruud took a 3-0 lead in the opener before Nadal clawed back the break to make it 3-3. In the rest of the set they served well, and Rafa prevailed in the tie break 7-4.
Ruud saved one set point at 4-5 in the second set before being broken by Nadal in the 12th game to emerge on top and seal the deal. — tennisworld
