Toni Nadal on his nephew: "Rafa has always kept his feet on the ground".
For the past week, tennis fans have had to come to terms with the fact that Rafael Nadal is no longer a professional tennis player.
After more than twenty years of winning the most prestigious tournaments, the Spaniard has been betrayed by his body. Plagued by injuries for the past two years, the 38-year-old decided to call it a day at the Davis Cup Final 8.
In an interview with the official ATP website, Toni Nadal spoke of the end of his nephew's career: "A few months ago, Rafael told me he was thinking of retiring.
He wanted to stop in Malaga during the Davis Cup. Of course, it was something more or less expected. We knew his decision would come at some point.
I found out when he called me to tell me," he explains.
"I'm very happy about everything he's achieved. On the court, of course, with all the titles he's won," continues Toni Nadal.
"But, above all, the most notable thing is to see how a boy who had a dream of becoming a great tennis player did everything he could without going astray along the way.
That's what gives me the greatest pleasure. He always kept his feet on the ground. I loved seeing how much people enjoyed it."
Finally, Toni Nadal talks about his nephew's post-career life: "I think he's going to approach his new life in a completely normal way.
No sporting career lasts a hundred years. In any case, I think he's got used to the idea over the last few months.
Of course, retirement is a difficult time, but I don't think it will be difficult for him to concentrate on the rest of his life doing something else.
He'll probably devote himself to it with the same passion he had for tennis matches," he concluded.
