Nadal Practices with Young Stars One Year Post-Retirement

One year after retiring from professional tennis, Rafael Nadal returned to the court for practice sessions with rising stars at his academy in Mallorca, Spain, while sharing candid reflections on his storied career and rivalries in a recent interview.

Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, stepped away from the sport following a straight-sets defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in Spain's Davis Cup Finals quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands on November 17, 2024, in Malaga. The 39-year-old Spaniard, who spent more than 200 weeks as world number one, cited persistent injuries as the driving force behind his decision. A hip injury sustained at the 2023 Australian Open required surgery, and despite initial optimism for full recovery, Nadal determined he could no longer compete at his desired level. He also managed a chronic foot condition throughout his career, which medical experts had warned could limit his longevity from a young age. "I retired because my body couldn't take any more," Nadal said in an interview with journalist Jorge Valdano on Movistar's Universo Valdano program. "I was still happy doing what I was doing."

In the weeks leading up to the anniversary of his...