Nadal‍ Says He⁤ Doesn’t Miss Tennis After Retirement

MADRID (AP) —⁣ Rafael Nadal, the Spanish tennis icon, stated⁢ he “doesn’t miss ‍tennis” after receiving the Sporting Icon Award at the Laureus⁣ World Sports⁤ Awards in Madrid on Thursday.
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⁤ Nadal, 38, officially retired from professional ⁤tennis after his final appearance at the Davis Cup ⁤in Malaga, Spain, last November. Throughout his ‍illustrious career, he secured 22 Grand Slam titles, including⁣ a⁤ record 14 French Open victories.
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Life ⁣After Tennis

‍ Speaking to reporters after the Laureus ⁣ceremony, Nadal addressed‍ his feelings about⁢ retirement.”To be ‍honest, I don’t miss tennis,” he saeid. “Not at all.”
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‍ ⁤ ⁣ He clarified that his decision to retire was not due to a lack of passion for⁢ the ⁤sport. ⁤”I didn’t retire as ⁣I was tired of ‍tennis or competition, at all,” Nadal ⁢explained. “I ended my career with joy,and if the situation allowed,I would keep playing because ⁣I loved what I ⁤was doing.”
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A Passion Unchanged

Nadal emphasized his enduring love for tennis. “This is⁣ my ⁢passion, and it‍ has never changed,” he stated. “It’s ‍just that when you realise⁣ that your body can no longer hold on…⁣ you will try to end this chapter. And I’ve‍ already finished ⁤it.”
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Battling Injuries

‍ Throughout his career, Nadal faced numerous injury challenges, which ultimately influenced his decision to retire. “I delayed making the final decision because I needed time⁢ to make ⁢sure that the decision was right,” he said.
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⁤”The difficulty is⁤ that when I was sitting on the couch, I was wondering if I‍ should continue to try to fight,” Nadal added. “When I found that my body⁣ couldn’t get back enough to keep enjoying the game on the court, I decided it was time to finish it.”

No Regrets

Nadal concluded, “That’s⁢ why I don’t miss (tennis). Because I know I’ve done my best, I’ve had no regrets,‍ and my body can’t continue to play.”
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