Rafael Nadal’s biggest regrets and most painful losses revealed after retirement

Rafael Nadal loved some of the exceptional and profitable careers in tennis, however even the very best gamers have regrets and suffered painful losses.

Nadal formally introduced his retirement on Thursday – along with his final event on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga – and tributes have been flooding in ever since.

The ‘King of Clay’, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, might play his final skilled match on November 19 if Spain fail to progress previous the Netherlands.

The 38-year-old will rightly be remembered as one of many best gamers to choose up a racket, however followers are eager to know if Nadal has any important profession regrets.

Right here’s the whole lot you might want to know…

Rafael Nadal regrets that he didn’t defend his ‘physique’ like Novak Djokovic

Nadal has beforehand admitted to regrets over how he managed his physique within the twilight years of his profession, which resulted in damage issues and varied missed tournaments.

‘I missed 4 and a half years of Grand Slams because of damage,’ Nadal mentioned in September 2023. ‘That is the truth. However that’s additionally sport.

‘[Novak Djokovic] had a physique and a manner of taking part in that allowed him to compete greater than me.

‘I’ve no alternative however to recognise this, I did what I might. I’d change many issues in my life and my profession.

‘I’ve made mistaken selections in relation to defending my physique. Djokovic, he has finished higher as a result of his manner of taking part in has allowed him to play greater than me. However I used to be mistaken for considering that my selections have been good.’

Rafael Nadal regrets that he by no means acquired to play Roger Federer in New York

Nadal and Roger Federer shaped an unbelievable rivalry and locked horns 40 occasions on the ATP Tour, with 9 of these conferences coming in main finals.

Apparently, although, Nadal and Federer by no means performed in opposition to one another in New York – house of the US Open – and the Spaniard needs that was not the case.

‘We shared a variety of necessary issues collectively, no?’ Nadal mentioned in June 2022. ‘I feel in a roundabout way all of the issues that we achieved, [it is] troublesome to consider tennis within the final 15, 20 years with out enthusiastic about the rivalry that now we have.

‘As a result of now we have been taking part in in each large stadium, not in New York, that’s the one factor that bothers me a bit of bit, that we by no means performed in New York.

‘However in the remainder of an important occasions of the world, we shared the court docket, combating for an important issues.’

Rafael Nadal’s most painful losses to Novak Djokovic

Nadal has skilled a number of important losses to Massive Three rival Novak Djokovic all through his profession.

The 2012 Australian Open closing was notably heartbreaking for Nadal, who suffered defeat after practically six hours on the court docket, in what grew to become one of many longest finals in Grand Slam historical past.

That may undoubtedly be amongst Nadal’s most painful profession losses in addition to his defeat to Djokovic on the Olympic Video games in Paris earlier this 12 months at his favorite location, Roland-Garros.

Nadal had been hoping to clinch a medal in a single his last-ever skilled occasions however Djokovic beat him 6-1 6-4 – shifting 31-29 up of their total head-to-head – earlier than occurring to clinch singles gold himself.

Rafael Nadal suffered heartbreaking defeats to Andy Murray and Roger Federer

Nadal has additionally suffered painful defeats to Andy Murray and Federer throughout his profession.

Extra Trending

Learn Extra Tales

Murray shocked Nadal on his beloved clay floor – in entrance of a house crowd – within the 2015 Madrid Open closing, which marked a big shift within the sport, with the British icon occurring to dominate the ATP Tour throughout 2016.

One other heartbreaking second got here for Nadal within the 2017 Australian Open closing in opposition to Federer.

The Swiss hero gained that showdown in 5 units, beating Nadal for the primary time in a Grand Slam closing since Wimbledon 2007.

MORE : When is Rafael Nadal’s final match and who does he face earlier than retirement?

MORE : Novak Djokovic indignant over Jannik Sinner doping scandal: ‘Not serving to our sport!’

MORE : Rafael Nadal urged to delay retirement amid Davis Cup ‘final dance’ rumours