Will Rafael Nadal ever return to tennis? His response after Serena Williams’ comeback says it all - The Times of India

Rafael Nadal has made one thing very clear. Even though Serena Williams has returned to professional tennis at 44, he has no plans to follow the same path. Speaking in recent interviews highlighted by CNBC, the 22-time Grand Slam champion said he is happy watching Serena compete again, but his own playing days are over. Nadal explained that while he still loves tennis, years of injuries made retirement the right decision for him.Rafael Nadal explains why Serena Williams’ comeback will not change his retirement decisionNadal retired from professional tennis after the 2024 Davis Cup, ending one of the greatest careers in the sport. Since then, he has stepped away from the daily demands of professional competition and focused on family life, his academy in Mallorca and other personal projects, including his Netflix documentary Rafa.When asked about Serena Williams’ return, Nadal spoke with admiration but also made it clear that every athlete has a different journey.“I’m happy for Serena, but every individual is different. Everyone needs to do what makes them happy,” Nadal said.He added, “I have full respect for her. She is one of the best athletes of all time. But for me, I’m happy just watching her on court again.”Nadal also admitted that he rarely even plays tennis now. He said he never retired because he stopped loving the game. Instead, it was his body that could no longer handle the physical demands of competing at the highest level.Years of injuries, especially to his knees and hips, made it difficult for him to continue. While many believe he could still have challenged top players if he had stayed healthy, Nadal said he has accepted that chapter of his life is over.Serena Williams begins new tennis chapter while Rafael Nadal embraces life after retirementSerena Williams returned to professional tennis earlier this month after nearly four years away from competition. She made her comeback in women’s doubles at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, partnering with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko.The pair won their opening match before their run ended after Mboko withdrew because of a knee injury. Serena has said she returned simply because she loves competing and feels she has “nothing to prove.” Reports have also suggested she could play singles again, including a possible Wimbledon appearance.Nadal respects that decision but has no interest in making a similar comeback. He said he is satisfied with his life away from the tour and does not feel the desire to return for doubles or any other competitive event.His comments show that retirement looks different for every athlete. While Serena has chosen to write another chapter in her legendary career, Nadal believes his story on the court has already reached its natural ending.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.