Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has made it clear that he doesn’t miss the sport.
On Monday, Nadal received the Sporting Icon award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. During his career, the 38-year-old won 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at Roland Garros.
Nadal retired in November following his final match at the Davis Cup in Malaga. “The truth is, I don’t miss tennis. Not at all. I absolutely don’t miss it,” Nadal told reporters.
“But not because I was tired of tennis or tired of the struggle—absolutely not. I ended my career happy, and if I could have, I would have kept going, because I loved what I was doing,” he added.
He concluded: “It was my passion, and it always has been. It’s just that when you realize you physically can’t go on anymore… you try to turn the page. And I’ve done that.”