Little by little, my sadness over Rafael Nadal’s retirement is easing and I’ve started watching tennis video clips occasionally. However, I’m still not ready to dive into full matches just yet. I just need more time. But as Rafa himself has said many times, he would love for all of us to keep supporting tennis and help the sport grow even more.
I came across a fun moment in a United Cup video where players took on the role of interviewers and got to ask each other questions. One of the questions was which player they would “steal” from another team. Coco Gauff asked if it could be a former player, and then said: “I mean, let’s take Rafa out of retirement and bring him onto our team.” Team USA certainly knows how to spot quality, don’t they?
How are you spending your time now that you’re not watching Rafa? Let us know in the comments below!
I’m completely tennis depressed since Rafa retired! 💔 He seems super happy when he reports he’s no longer in pain. He can finally walk up and down stairs in his house, you have pure empathy for him. No pain! No more suffering. I am happy for him!
I feel exactly the same as other Rafa fans have expressed here, that tennis is not the same, it’s not as fun for me to watch without Rafa being part of it. I still like watching players like Sinner or Alcaraz, but I won’t get up at 2 a.m. to watch the match. Tennis tournaments are no longer “must watch tv” for me – like when you would schedule to be home at 2 p.m because that’s when Rafa will be playing…. I have also wondered how this first year without tennis feels for Rafa. I know he has other goals and obligations (like his academy) and I’m sure he enjoys being around for family and friends in ways he wasn’t always able to be when he was playing. But after doing it for 20+ years, it’s got to be a strange sensation, not to be training for tournaments, not travelling to Australia etc. Plus Rafa himself has said how much he loved the tour, seeing other players etc. If it’s a big change for us his fans, I can only imagine the adjustment it must be for Rafa himself!
Rafa brought a thrill to tennis fans like me in a way no one else could in any sport from any era in history. While I loved Andre & Sampras & still search for my favorite all.court creative players like Dimitrov, Ons Jabeur, there will never be anything like Nadal’s grit, his ferocity and sheer love of the game. No one watching him ever believed he couldn’t find a way to prevail, outwit his opponent and claim victory. I watched the highlights of the AO win over Medvedev a few days ago on TC and it was nothing short of miraculous. I spend my nights dreaming of ways he’ll play his next Roland Garros final and win #15. Te echo de menos , Rafa.
Le echo mucho de menos, parece como si al tenis faltara la esencia de Rafa
Se que hay grandes jugadores, a un nivel muy alto, y muy completos, pero el juego de Rafa para mí es especial,
SIEMPRE CONTIGO!!!!
I now have to pick and choose the players I want to see play. It’s definitely not the same without RAFA. I’ll follow him …if possible…in all his future endeavors, especially his family life and all the good things he is doing. He is truly a good human being.
.
I totally agree with Coco! For me, tennis is not the same anymore since Rafa’s retirement.
Till now, I did not see any matches, I do not have an idol anymore. During Australian Open I maybe will follow Carlos, but I will certainly not wake up in the middle of the night anymore to watch tennis. That’s what Rafa did to me !!
Oh how I miss Rafa there’s no one who excites me like him miss watching him so much.Tennis will never be the same.
I’m struggling to watch tennis now that Rafa has retired. I have yet to find a player who can capture my full attention the way Rafa did. If only we could turn back the hands of time
Oh Coco. How we all agree! I have tennis on the tv because I can let it roll and do other things and keep one eye on it. But it’s just not the same. No player is worth staying up all night to watch live anymore. No player has the charisma Rafa has. It’s just not exciting anymore. How I miss Rafa! Thank you to this site for keeping us posted on all things Rafa still!!! Tennis will never be the same.
I totally agree with the other posts. I still watch some tennis and there are other players I admire. I would not, however, wake up at 3am to watch them. I will always miss Rafa, but he will go on to have a wonderful life. I am so grateful for all the amazing moments he provided his fans. He never let us down but his body let him down eventually.