Rafael Nadal proud of his career: "I would not be happier if I had 25 Grand Slams".

Rafael Nadal has spoken for the first time after publishing in his networks the video in which he announced his retirement after the Davis Cup Finals to be held in Malaga in November;

He spoke to AS newspaper in Saudi Arabia while playing the Six Kings Slams where he lost both matches against Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Hehas expressed his feelings after saying he is quitting.

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Daily effort

"I think I have made an effort and I leave with the peace of mind of having done, I think, everything I could and a little bit more too. Because in the end, with the injuries, I didn't let myself go, I had the determination to always try to come back, to continue, and to do it in a positive way. I guess I have succeeded. I've been through a lot of things that at some point it would have been easy, and maybe logical, to let myself go a little bit more and say, that's it. But I have the great personal satisfaction of having had a team that has helped me at all times, a family that has been with me when I needed it most".

Incredible career

"In the end it has been incredible that a boy from a village, from Manacor, has managed to have a long and, obviously, good career. Starting like any other kid, with the luck that as a child I had my uncle and a family that could help me in everything, and from there many things came together that have made that somehow I have been able to fight for what I was excited about. Later, although many things have gone in my favor, but also many others have gone against me, I have always managed, somehow, to find the way or the path to move forward with real chances of success".

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More Grand Slams without injuries?

"Maybe, but... In the end it's obvious that I missed more than all my rivals, in terms of options to win Grand Slams, but the reality is that it happened to me. I'm never one to think 'if I had done' or 'if I hadn't'. It has been like that and, with that, I have had a career that I could never have imagined and I am more than happy. I've talked it over with Federer in recent times, with Carlos and his family here one morning the other day. You want to be the best when you're in competition, because it's the nature of sport."

Valuing what has been achieved beyond the numbers

"I believe in having a good and big ambition, but at the same time a healthy ambition. And I was saying it the other day talking to Federer. Yes, it's true that when you're in the middle of your career and competing, you want to win. But you get to the end of your career and, honestly, neither I am a minimum more satisfied than Federer for having 22 (Grand Slam titles) and he 20. And I do not think I would be more satisfied or happy if I had 25, one more than the 24 (of Djokovic). I say this from my heart. Of course I would like to be 25, without any doubt, because this is what sport is all about, trying to be the best. However, when it's over, you value what it's all been about as a whole, not if it's been a little bit more."

Regrets?

"That I have made decisions that have led me later to be in more trouble? Yes, but also many times it has worked out well and I have ended up winning very important tournaments. So, where is the balance? If we knew it on Monday, if we had always chosen the conservative option, then maybe instead of having what I have, I would have 12 Grand Slams. It is always difficult to find the perfect balance, but of course, if I were to go back now, I would tell you exactly the points where I would not repeat what I did".