Nadal: "It hurts me to see the 'passing shot' to Djokovic in the Australian Open final"

Iker Jiménez | 11 Jun 2026 | 10.33

Nadal: "It hurts me to see the 'passing shot' to Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open". Source: Getty

Streaming ATP Hertogenbosch MD live tennis

🎾 Arends/Pel vs Diallo/Hurkacz

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

The figure of Rafael Nadal has always been associated with discretion. For over two decades, the Balearic player has preferred to let his tennis speak for him, keeping his private life away from the spotlight. However, the release of the docuseries Rafa, produced by Netflix, has been an exception. In an extensive conversation on the Doc Talk Podcast, hosted by Oscar-winning filmmaker John Ridley and documentary editor Matt Carey, the Spanish player has offered one of the most personal interviews of his entire career.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion speaks candidly about the end of his sporting career, the injuries that marked his path, his relationship with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and his view on success. He also shares a reflection that perfectly summarizes his personality: "I was more of a competitor than a winner". A conversation that allows us to get to know the more human side of Nadal, far from the image of the invincible champion he projected on the court for so many years.

Nadal on opening up about his privacy: "It was now or never"

"First and foremost, it was for the people behind the documentary. Zach seemed like the right person to do it, and I have huge respect for David and everything Skydance has accomplished. Their perspective shifted my view a bit. Also, I understood that it was now or never. You can always make another documentary remembering my career, but showing my daily life was a unique opportunity."

"I have made mistakes, like everyone, but I never gave up having a normal life, coming back home, keeping my lifelong friends, and being close to my family. Ego is one of the biggest human flaws and in sports, it causes many problems. I always understood that real life was way more important than sports life."

Nadal: "I was more of a competitor than a winner"

"I was a winner, of course, because you don't achieve what I have achieved without being one. But beyond knowing how to win, what I truly knew how to do was compete. I always found a way to adapt and remain competitive, even with physical issues. That's why I say I was more of a competitor than a winner. Losing hurt, but if I had competed well, I accepted it. What I struggled with was not feeling competitive."

"I was happy doing what I did. I loved playing tennis. My body said stop, but my mind wanted to continue. I wanted to see if my body would respond. People thought: 'Why doesn't he retire?' I gave myself a reasonable amount of time to see if I could compete again with guarantees. When I realized it wasn't possible, that's when I understood it was time."

Nadal remembers his battles with Federer and Djokovic

"It's the past, but it's a positive past. I've had a much better career than I could have ever dreamed of. The injury periods were the worst. That Djokovic passing shot in the final of the Australian Open, for example, I've watched it again and thought: 'It hurts to see it'. It was a very easy shot and practically meant winning the tournament. That chapter of my life is closed, and it's closed well. I have wonderful memories, but I don't think like a tennis player anymore. When I see videos or photos in the academy museum, it moves me, but it's a finished chapter."

"Now that I've finished my career, when I see Federer or Djokovic, I'm happy to meet them. I regularly talk on the phone with Roger. When you play, there's always a certain reserve with rivals, but now everything is much more natural. I watch matches and moments of the tournaments. I rarely watch a full match unless I'm very interested. If Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are playing, then I like to watch. I also follow the progress of Rafa Jódar, who has improved a lot in the past year."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nadal: "Me duele ver el "passing shot" a Djokovic en la final del Open de Australia"

Rafael Nadal