Rafa Nadal has shot down speculation that he is on the verge of retiring from tennis, saying his career is ‘far from over’ despite widespread speculation he will soon call it quits.
The 22-time grand slam champion won the Australian and French Opens this year despite an injury-plagued season.
He is due to become a father for the first time in a matter weeks, a factor which will weigh heavily into his plans for the rest of his tennis career.
The Spanish champion has previously said that he didn’t want to start a family until after his career is over.
With wife Xisca heavily pregnant and expecting their first child in October, many believe we won’t see Nadal on the court much longer.
But speaking after receiving the ‘Camino Real Award’ from King Felipe VI at the University of Alcala on Tuesday, the 36-year-old made it clear that he does not intend to follow Serena Williams and Roger Federer into retirement anytime soon.
Williams and Federer both announced their retirements recently, with Serena farewelling tennis at the US Open and Federer set to do likewise at this weekend’s Laver Cup.
Nadal is supposed to be joining forces with Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on Team Europe at the Laver Cup, however his participation is still under somewhat of a cloud due to the dramas surrounding his wife and unborn child.
