Nadal: “Without goals, things are much more complicated”

Rafael Nadal He said Tuesday that it is “vital” for him to have goals, because not setting goals to remain better makes “things much more complicated.” The Spaniard reflected on how he is motivated to continue aspiring to new challenges in a colloquium with the president of Telefónica, José María Álvarez-Pallete, during the opening of the fair on education and innovation “Enlighted 2021 Hybrid Edition”, chaired by the king.

At 35, Nadal said that he faces “every day with the illusion of learning” and that for him it is It is essential to train with “the objective of improving something.” “That, mentally, helps you a lot to be awake and active. I do not understand life in any other way. To work and train to train, without a goal of being better, even if you do not get it later, it does not make sense, it is boring,” he commented. .

Nadal, a thirteen-time winner of the Roland Garros tournament, is recovering from a left foot injury that caused him to finish early this season. With 20 Grand Slam titles, tied with the Swiss Roger Federer and the Serbian Novak Djokovic, Nadal did not speak of when it could return to the tracks and focused his intervention on the values ​​that he gives importance to in life and in sport and the role of education in today’s society. “With effort, dedication and humility, you always achieve something, which is progress,” he said.

In his opinion, “There is no greater personal satisfaction than coming home knowing that you have done everything possible to achieve your goals.” The tennis player from Manacor highlighted the relevance of having always had the same team in his career as an athlete. “That creates a relationship of trust that allows them to say things with total freedom. It is one of the best decisions that I have best been able to make in my career, having people by my side who are willing to tell me things as they see them. , without thinking how or when he has to tell me, “he stressed. He also highlighted the need to have self-criticism and “to recognize when one is wrong without looking for excuses”.

Nadal assured that he has never wanted to “be a model for anyone”, but rather follow his own path. He also spoke of his foundation, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, and of the “satisfaction” that comes from being able to help 900 families with few resources. “I have been very fortunate to have been born where I was born and life has smiled at me in all aspects. It is fair that something has to be given back to society. The people to whom life smiles at us, we have the obligation to be examples for society, “he said.

At the end of the discussion, Felipe VI took the microphone to ask how Nadal’s academy and Telefónica help to detect talented young people. The Mallorcan tennis player admitted that technology has gained weight in training, but pointed out that “Without passion, without effort and without people helping you around you” it is difficult to achieve goals.