“Rafa was a grinder, he would get down and dirty”: Connors analyzes how Nadal’s style led to injuries

Jimmy Connors analyzed how Rafael Nadal’s playing style contributed to the breakdown of his body, leading to his retirement. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is preparing for his final tournament at the Davis Cup Finals, after playing his last exhibition as a professional at the Six Kings Slam.

Nadal faced Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, suffering a straight-sets defeat, followed by another loss to Novak Djokovic for third place. While the performances were respectable, Nadal showed he was far from the level that defined his career.

The American former world No. 1 expressed his admiration for Nadal’s playing style and appreciated comparisons between himself and the Spaniard. Nadal recently confirmed his official retirement at the end of the season, marking the end of the Big-3 rivalry, with only Djokovic still competing.

Connors shared his thoughts on Nadal’s retirement on his podcast ‘Advantage Connors,’ praising the spirit Nadal displayed throughout his career: "I said many years ago, when he was first coming up, his style reminded me a lot of the way I played and my attitude towards it," the American said. "I said he played like he’s broke, and I know that ain’t true!”

“He was willing to go out there and lay it all on the line every time. It didn’t matter what the score was, whether he was up or down or whatever, he was going to give it his all until the very end. Hence, it’s a breakdown,” Connors said. "If you play like that, not that other guys don’t, but you can tell some guys like Rafa, compared to let’s say Federer.”

“Federer moved more elegantly across the court, but Rafa was a grinder. He would get down and dirty. That’s why on clay, his shirt and socks were always dirty. I love that about him,” Connors added. “That comparison (between Connors and Nadal) is something that I treasure, and I hope he feels the same.”

“I go back again to the way he played. At 38, he’s had a good innings. He’s had an 18-to-20-year career, and everything he put into it – 22 Slams and many other tournaments.

"So, he’s put in his time. He’s got to be proud of that. Everybody else is feeling the pain of Federer leaving, now Rafa leaving, and [Andy] Murray, and ‘Djoker’ (Novak Djokovic) is no spring chicken either. Facts are facts, and that’s the end of an era."

Nadal last faced Djokovic in an official match at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Serbian won the encounter, knocking Nadal out of the competition while on his way to securing his first Gold medal. In Riyadh on Saturday, the Six Kings Slam allowed fans to witness the final match of the greatest rivalry of the Open Era, with 60 encounters (Djokovic leading 31-29). The result was merely anecdotal for Nadal, who gave his first on-court comments since announcing his retirement.

“I’m going to miss almost everything,” Nadal said. “It’s been a dream come true to be able to play for almost 20 years. Having the chance to play in the best places in the world. It’s something I watched on TV as a kid.”

“At the end, I realised my dream to become a pro tennis player and be a successful one. I can’t thank enough the support and love I received all around the world,” the 14-time Roland Garros champion said.. “It’s been amazing energy during every tournament I played. Huge support. From my team and family but also from the entire tennis world.

“It’s been a huge pleasure to be around. I’m a fortunate guy to be a tennis player. We have a great tour and a lot of great people running the sport. I feel very fortunate. I want to thank everyone.”