Nadal: “I didn’t want to be the top, the new generation has not achieved many things”

On the fact that he never wanted to become a leader, he stood Rafa Nadal in an interview in Spanish Marca. At the same time, the “king of clay” also spoke about the new generation of tennis, while he also talked about whether he is thinking about his retirement, but also about the new year.

“Between the three of us, none of us would be as competitive if we didn’t have each other. Federer, Djokovic and we pushed ourselves to the limit, to improve, to always want more.

Of course I would like to be the best, I am a competitor, no doubt, but for me it has never been an obsession, nor will it be. Well, it may be an illusion, but not an obsession at all” were the words of the top Spanish tennis player about the comparison with Federer and Djokovic.

Read excerpts from his interview:

For the start of the year, until the rib injury:

“The first part of the season was exciting and emotional, because I was coming from five difficult months and the leg was not good. Also, during the tournament in Abu Dhabi I contracted the virus and spent ten days in quarantine.

When I traveled to Australia, just two days after my recovery, I wasn’t sure if I should go. Then I started playing well, but I had no idea what was going to happen next in Melbourne, with one of the most exciting finals I’ve played (Nadal from 0-2 down to pull off the upset against Medvedev).

Until Indian Wells I had 20 wins in a row, but in the semi-final against Alkarath, I broke my rib. In the dressing room I could hardly breathe, but I decided to play the final because I was told it was probably a muscle spasm. Obviously, if I found out I had broken ribs, I wouldn’t be playing. From then on, the year was very difficult”.

For the 14th Roland Garros victory:

“It was rather unexpected, because a week before I had left Rome with a limp. This is the truth. It is clear that if the doctors had not found the solution to relieve me from the pain, I would not have been able to win Roland Garros.

I went to Paris with a bad preparation, but I was confident after the win in Australia and on the day I had to play really well, in the quarter-final against Djokovic, I did. I was realistic, the semi-final against Zverev was very difficult, anything could have happened, but the poor guy broke his ankle.”

For Wimbledon:

“After winning Roland Garros I thought I would have to retire if I didn’t find a solution for my leg, because I couldn’t continue with these chronic pains. But the new treatment worked and mentally I was much more comfortable.

In fact, I haven’t played this well in London since my second title in 2010. I wanted to try to win it back. But then came the abdominal injury (Nadal retired before the semi-final with Kyrgios) and from then on the year was disastrous.

I was playing tennis with a lot of anti-inflammatories, I thought I should stop tennis, because I had lost my vitality. Then my son was born, so it was difficult to reach the final stage of the season with optimal preparation.”

On whether he’s tired of being compared to Federer, Djokovic and who’s the best:

“No, I’m not bored, I think it’s good for the promotion of tennis, the way I understand this conversation has not changed over the years. There will be one who will be the best, because everyone has their arguments, beyond the objective facts.

In the end what matters is that both Federer and Djokovic or I have done much more than we ever dreamed. I don’t like to talk about these things, but with numbers we have achieved things that have never been done before in our sport, so all three of us will go down in tennis history.

Between the three of us, none of us would be as competitive if we didn’t have each other. Federer, Djokovic and we pushed ourselves to the limit, to improve, to always want more.

Of course I would like to be the best, I am a competitor, no doubt, but for me it has never been an obsession, nor will it be. Well, it may be an illusion, but not an obsession at all.

In the end I always say the same thing and I can only thank life for everything that made me live for so many years, not only as a tennis player, because I was able to experience many things that I would not have dreamed of when I was young.”

On when he plans to retire:

“I don’t think about it, because I’m not one to try to guess, predict or prepare for the future, because things change very quickly. I know this moment is closer than last year, no doubt two years ago. This is pure logic. But in the end it is something that when it has to be done, it will be done. I’d like it to be on a tennis court.”

For the new generation:



“Alkarath is a very special player, he is very fast, he has very strong shots, excellent movement and backhand, I believe he will leave an era

I also say with complete humility that when Zverev, Medvedev or Tsitsipas came along, me, Federer and Djokovic were still at a very high level and for years they won very little.

The new generation has more opportunities than other opponents had at that time, because now, after Roger’s retirement, Novak and I are playing fewer and fewer tournaments.

The new players, in addition to being very good, are able to visualize winning in a way that the previous ones could not and this helps them a lot to improve as tennis players.”