"Being in a competition generates a lot of stress" - Nadal

Wednesday, 18 May 2022 at 10:00

Updated at Sunday, 30 June 2024 at 14:03

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bySam Frape

While Rafael Nadal was enjoying some time off the courts in Mallorca, he sat down to answer some questions about his private life.

In a short interview with Vice, the Spanish great opened up about the toll being a professional tennis player takes on his personal life and the all-consuming lifestyle it is for anyone who competes at the top.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion will certainly not have it easy at 2022's edition of Roland Garros, bidding to win the trophy for the 14th time in Paris. This would bring his Slam tally to the coveted 22 mark, yet extending his argument for being the sport's GOAT when compared to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Prior to potentially two grueling weeks in the French capital, the man from Manacor took some deserved downtime on his home island, playing golf, enjoying the famous cuisine, and basking in the Mallorcan sun.

"My perfect day includes playing a bit of golf in the morning, then having a lunch with my friends and spending time with my family. Even better if it's on the boat or we sleep on the beach."

"I like to go to sea also in the winter. There are less people and the bottom of the sea is also beautiful in winter, even more so than in the summer. The colours are greener, brighter, I really love it."

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Any time that the sport's great can relax will be much appreciated, not only by him but also by his nearest and dearest. The life of a tennis professional requires much dedication, and often, entire months of the calendar year are spent traveling away from one's home comforts.

"Family is so important to me that I don't want to live anywhere else. When I think of home, I think about peace, family and getting away from the stress of competition. Because in the end, being in a competition generates a lot of stress and when you get back home those feelings disappear completely."

This rest bite would have come as a welcome break ahead of what could be two of the most defining weeks of the Spaniard's career. However, he may not be able to enjoy the same type of break in Mallorca for the coming weeks, given Wimbledon and the grass court swing before that quickly transitions into the tournaments on the other side of the ocean.