Rafael Nadal Opens Up on Retirement Talks Ahead of Australian Open 2019

Rafael Nadal has admitted that he has already started planning for his post-retirement life. The Spaniard, who has had an illustrious career, despite his injuries and surgeries, will go into the Australian Open 2019, without having had much of match practice.

However, the Spaniard is nothing short of optimistic, as he has openly made claims of having the Australian Open crown in his sights, regardless of the little number of matches he has played in the build-up. “I am here to try and play a very good tournament in Melbourne and I believe if I have this good week of practice and I am able to have a good start in the tournament, why not? I am playing well (enough to win)”, said Rafael Nadal.

Nadal, in an exclusive interview with AAP, was asked if he thought about retirement, and the life after it. Rafael Nadal, spoke out casually, that he is ready for the dreaded day, and has already made plans for his post-retirement life. The Spaniard has realized that the multiple injuries and surgeries on his body, are a sign that, he is at the end of his illustrious career, and the Spaniard seems to have an air of acceptance about it.

“Life has great things, not only tennis”, said Rafael Nadal. “So it is something that doesn’t scare me, to think about that day and that day is realistic,” said the world number 2. “The day that I feel that I don’t have chances to compete for the things that make me happy will probably be the day to do another thing”, he added.

Apart from fishing and golfing, Rafael Nadal will focus on his tennis academy, and on a number of other businesses that he has had success in, after his retirement. “I prepare my future, of course”, said Rafael Nadal, when asked about his life after tennis. “I have my tennis academy, a foundation”, said Rafa. “I have different things around the world that I have to take care (of) in the future and of course I will not be the guy who finished a tennis career and am going to stay at home fishing and playing golf every day”, he added.

“Of course I would like to do it more often than the last 20 years probably, but I like the work, the new experiences”, he continued. “I am a worker so I like to do those things.”

Rafael Nadal will play more golf in his post-retirement days, and we might actually see him play professionally, if he is as good as he says he is.

“I am solid, more or less(in golf)- I have nothing unbelievable but nothing (weak)”, said Rafa. “I more or less have a good short game and I am solid with the driver. Being honest, I never take a lesson and I never go to the range and hit balls. I don’t have much time for it”, said the Spaniard.

“When I have the chance, the only thing that I like to do is go and play with the family or the friends- If I don’t play with a family or friends, I don’t go”, said Nadal.  “I like to play by teams. We have teams tournaments in Majorca and I have the team from my club and enjoy playing with them, playing the tournament, then have lunch. That’s it.”

“For me, it’s a hobby, I’m not crazy about going from two to 1.7. I just don’t care about the handicap. I just care about having fun and (trying to) play good- I am a competitive guy and I like to do well and, when I do it, I try my best….but I don’t go to the range, if I have hours free at home, I don’t go to the range by myself.”