Tennis may still be enamoured with Rafael Nadal and the legacy he left, but the global superstar has found new meaning outside of the game in retirement.
Returning to the Australian Open ahead of the ‘Night of Legends’ event before Sunday’s men’s singles final, the 22-time Grand Slam champion opted against reliving his glory days on the eve of the decider between old rival Novak Djokovic, 38, and the face a new generation in 22-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.
AO 2009 and 2022 champion Nadal, who is based in Mallorca, was first introduced to the sport as a fan and insists he has now come full circle, these days completely at peace with not being the man in the arena.
“That part of my life is over,” Nadal said. “Of course it’s forever going to be in my heart.
“I have a completely different mindset. Much more relaxed. No pressure at all.
“It’s going to be a pleasure to watch the final [in person]. I haven’t been in a professional match for a while. I just want to enjoy another great battle and a great level of tennis.”
The battle between generational talents – Alcaraz at the beginning of his career, and Djokovic, the consummate professional with freshly stoked fire in his belly after being written off by some “experts” – has left Nadal divided.
Alcaraz is his compatriot, and Djokovic an opponent who also defined the ‘Big Three’ era, alongside Roger Federer.
“With Novak, we had an amazing story,” Nadal said. “All those years competing for the most important things.
“I think it's a positive example of commitment, resilience and in some ways it's a positive thing to have somebody like him, at his age, fighting with the players that are younger and they are at the prime.
“Novak, for obvious reasons, he's not at his prime, but still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive now. So full respect, full credit to him.”
When it comes to Alcaraz, the 39-year-old Nadal speaks more from his heart than head.
“He doesn’t need advice from me,” he said. “He has a huge team next to him. Every player works different.
“Carlos is from my country. I have a good relationship with him. We shared the Olympic Games together. We shared the Spanish team.
“If Novak wins, I will be happy for him because what he’s doing at this stage of his career is quite spectacular. He shows an amazing passion for the game. But if I have to support someone, I support Carlos.”
Around Nadal this weekend is some of the local faces who helped shaped his career every Australian summer, including long-time AO driver Iain Moffat.
“He was always very humble,” Moffat said. “And very considerate of others.”
Moffat as a driver got unique insights into the former player and person, seeing him in unguarded moments. “He was always there when I lost a tough match,” Nadal recalled. “And when good things happened too.”
Now, those moments belong to others. Nadal watches, appreciates and steps aside comfortable with a sport that continues without him, and with his place within it.
“I don’t see it from my personal perspective,” he said.
“I see it more like a fan.”