Nadal: “I'm not as obsessed as Djokovic by the Grand Slam record”

Rafa Nadal gave an interview to the British newspaper Metro after becoming a new image for Amstel Ultra beer. The Spanish tennis player took the opportunity to review his career, his future on the circuit and the rivalry he has had with Federer and Djokovic in his career.

On his future Nadal was cautious, although he confessed that he hopes to continue playing at the highest level for at least a couple of more years. “My agreement with Amstel ends in 2024. If I will continue playing until then? I can't predict what will happen in the future. Of course, I don't see myself playing until I'm 45, right? I always try to do my best for myself. play as long as possible. As we all know, there will come a day when I can't go on. At the moment I am happy with what I do. I am enjoying it and I hope to have the opportunity to continue participating in the tournaments for years to come. “

Nadal wanted to distance himself from the challenges of Djokovic, who has reiterated on several occasions his dream of becoming the tennis player with the most Grand Slam in history, something to which the Manacori plays down the importance. “I enjoy what I do. I am happy to play tennis and to have played in Monte Carlo in a great tournament again and, of course, I want to win more Grand Slam. No doubt. But I'm not like Novak, who is more obsessed with it, more focused, and I'm not saying that in a negative way. He's more focused on that record because of what these things mean to him. It's like he's always talking about these records and how well he's done … but it hasn't been my way of looking at tennis During my career. My goal is to stay healthy. Of course I am ambitious, otherwise I would not be in the position I am in but I think I have a different ambition than Djokovic. I want to continue with what I'm doing and be in a position where I can continue to enjoy the circuit and achieve as much as possible. “

Nadal himself was proud of the achievements he has achieved in his career and also impressed by the figures he has achieved, although he admits that he has not had time to look at it. “I am very happy with the career I have had. I have been very satisfied these years, but I don't have to take a step back in my motivation for it. I don't get frustrated if I lose a tournament, I try to see things differently. I know some numbers are insane and I would never have dreamed of these numbers. But at the same time, I have never had much time to look at those figures. I hope that at the end of my career, when I stop doing what I'm doing, I have more time to analyze these things. Now I'm focused on trying to continue. Tennis goes very fast. We have many tournaments throughout the year and for example in the clay court season I have played Monte Carlo and I will play Barcelona, ​​probably Madrid and Rome and then Roland Garros. There is not much time to enjoy the successes or think 'I have it, I have won', I know I was very successful in this part of the season before, but before. This year is another year and the only thing I do is try to play and train every day with the right attitude and try to be in a position to be competitive again as in the beginning. “

Nadal himself also recalled how the matches against Djokovic and Federer have helped him become a better tennis player. “When you face great opponents, that helps you get an idea of ​​what you need to be better. I have always had great rivals since the beginning of my career, first with Roger and shortly after with Novak. I've always had those great examples of tennis players competing for the same thing, and that helps you. But I also want to think, and I think it is, that my motivation is greater than that of the players I have faced. I play for myself, for my team, my fans, my family. Not for my rivals. My approach is that I have always wanted to be a better tennis player because I understand the sport that way. I understand that sport consists of training every day with the aim of improving something, of being better. Not because I need to be better because I faced Roger or Novak. It's the only way I understand the sport and having these players in front of you helps you get an idea of ​​what you need to improve “

Nadal was also asked about his rivalry with Federer and Djokovic on the circuit and the achievements that the three have achieved on the circuit after surpassing the record of Pete Sampras. “When Pete Sampras reached his 14th Grand Slam a lot of people thought, 'Okay, it's almost impossible for anyone to get there in the next few years,' but in a short period of time three players have managed more than 14 in the same era. That puts what we have done in 15 or 20 years into perspective, which is very difficult to match. But someone thought the same about Sampras and we did better. Probably in the future someone will come who does it better than us, even if it is not easy. “

Nadal was also asked about the NextGen tennis players and he was excited to measure himself against them. “For us it is not very important. Well, yes, I am only joking. It is normal, we are getting old, it is true. It is normal for new generations to come and now there is a great generation. It is very interesting. However, it is very difficult to choose one of them, because possibly I am wrong. But Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Thiem, Shapovalov, Felix (Auger-Aliassime) or Rublev, there is a great generation of fantastic players. We will see what happens in the next few years. The player who is the best will be the one with the most chances of success. They will continue their path, we will follow ours and we continue here to fight for titles and with the illusion of measuring ourselves against these young tennis players “.