By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Photo credit: Laureus World Sports Awards Facebook
Rafael Nadal closed the curtain on his brilliant career at Davis Cup last November.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion continues to earn honors.
King of Clay Nadal was honored with the Sports Icon award at the Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday.
It is the fifth Laureus award for Nadal, who met the media in Madrid for a Q&A.
Nadal shared he does not miss tennis—because he feels fulfilled by what he achieved in the sport.
“I don’t miss it, to be honest, I miss it zero,” Nadal told the media in Madrid. “Not because I ended up tired or fighting with tennis, not at all. I ended up happy and if I could I would have continued playing, tennis has made me happy all my life.
“When you realize that you can’t, you try to close the stage, and I have closed it. It took me as long as it took because I needed time to be convinced that the decision I was making was right. What I would have taken very badly is the idea of me being on the sofa at home thinking that I could be there playing.”
Of course, Nadal remains involved in the sport daily running his Rafa Nadal Academy in his native Mallorca.
The 38-year-old Spanish superstar said knowing his body could no longer compete at an elite level made parting less painful.
“When I saw that my body was not going to recover to the level I needed to continue enjoying the way I need to, I made the decision to stop,” Nadal said. “I don’t miss it because I ended up with the peace of mind that my body couldn’t take it anymore.
“I follow tennis, I don’t watch a lot of matches, but I watch the ones that interest me and I follow the results because I’m passionate about sport.”
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In a stirring salute, fans stood and chanted “Rafa! Rafa!” during Nadal’s final singles match at Davis Cup last November.
Parting can be poignant.
Emotions erupted throughout as Botic Van de Zandschulp defeated Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in what was the final singles match of his glorious career.
A devoted Davis Cup player, who also won Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles for Spain, Nadal was asked if he’d someday like to succeed buddy David Ferrer as Spanish captain.
“I don’t know, this can’t be predicted. I’m passionate about sports, but you have to mark your way forward,” Nadal said. “I have recently finished a long road, and I have to prepare for what is coming. I’ve had a family and a team that have prepared what I liked for the future, and I don’t know what can happen with this kind of thing.
“Obviously I can be a candidate to be captain, but there have to be circumstances that I don’t have today. I’m not saying no, not at all, but always having our sights set in a few years.”
