Rafael Nadal delivered an inspirational address to the graduates of his academy in Mallorca on Wednesday.

Still licking the wounds from his semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic at this year’s French Open, the Spaniard said he was taught to rise again from disappointments and failures and never be consumed by negativity.

He said that if there’s one lesson that he has learnt to heart during his long career, it is to pick oneself up after a fall or a slip-up and never to yield.

The Spaniard added that the pass-outs from the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar would soon realize that nothing is easily earned and it is when they go out in the world to chase their dreams that they will implement the life lessons that they have learned from their elders and families.

Rafael Nadal says he was taught to pick himself up after difficult situations

“You know that I usually don’t give many advice. But if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is to always try to pick myself up after difficult situations. Soon, you will realize that nothing in your lives is easy. It will be then that you’ll have to put into practice everything you have learnt from your families and your teachers,” Nadal said.

In a sage advice to the pass-outs, the Spaniard exhorted them to always surround themselves with good people and “stay away from those harmful people who do not contribute anything” to them.

He added that if they can count on the advice of their families, friends and “good mentors”, they will find it a lot easier to navigate and negotiate challenges in life.

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Nadal ended clay court season with semi-final loss at French Open

The clay season for the Spaniard, which had started with a quarter-final loss at Monte-Carlo Masters, ended in a shattering loss to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at Roland-Garros.

Nadal seemed to be cruising into the final after winning the opening set at a canter against the Serb.

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However, unforced errors proved the bane for the 13-time champion even as Djokovic raised his game to eventually come through in four sets.

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Post the loss, Nadal had said he would take some time away from tennis before deciding on his participation at Wimbledon and Tokyo Games.