"That chapter is closed": Rafael Nadal rules out comeback and explains why retirement is final
ATPSaturday, 27 June 2026 at 08:30
Rafael Nadal has once again made it clear that his playing career is over, dismissing any suggestion of a future comeback while reflecting on retirement, Novak Djokovic's place in tennis history and the physical limitations that ultimately brought an end to his career.
Speaking to CNBC Sport while promoting his new Netflix documentary, the 22-time Grand Slam champion offered an extensive look at life after professional tennis.
Nadal discussed why he feels completely at peace with retirement, reaffirmed that Djokovic deserves to be considered the greatest player in history based on achievements, and explained why he has no desire to follow the path of athletes returning to competition.
The recent return of Serena Williams also caught Nadal's attention, but he made it clear that a comeback is not an option for him, now more than a year and a half removed from his final professional match.
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"That chapter is closed": Nadal rules out any comeback and backs Djokovic in GOAT debate
One of the interview's clearest moments came when Nadal was asked whether Serena Williams' return to professional tennis had made him consider attempting a comeback of his own. The Spaniard immediately dismissed the possibility, explaining that years of pushing his body to its limits left him without any doubts about his decision.
"I think I explored enough the limits during all my tennis career," the former world No. 1 said. "No, I mean, in the next chapter of my life, that chapter is closed and in a good way. And I'm super proud of my tennis career. Now I am building my next career. So I'm enjoying that part and just focus on it."
The discussion then shifted to another topic that has long surrounded the sport: the GOAT debate. Asked whether current stars Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz could eventually surpass Novak Djokovic, Nadal insisted that, at least for now, the Serbian's achievements leave little room for debate. While acknowledging that inspiration and emotions also shape a player's legacy, he argued that history ultimately comes down to accomplishments.
"It's all about numbers. I mean, when I say Novak is the best tennis player of the history, because the numbers say that. And we need to think about numbers when we deliver who is the GOAT. Then what you create on others, the emotions, the inspiration, that's another story.
To answer your question, the numbers will say that in the future. I don't know. You need to play well for a super long time, depending if today it looks like they don't have rivals, but depending on new great rivals arriving on the tour, how tough they're going to have it to keep winning that often. And if they stay away from injuries, you never know. Life is unpredictable in tennis."
"There was nothing else in the tank"
Nadal also reflected on the difficult final chapter of his career, which was dominated by attempts to recover from a persistent hip injury. Asked whether he was satisfied with how everything ended, he explained that the result itself mattered less than knowing he had exhausted every possible option before deciding to retire.
Throughout his career, Nadal repeatedly returned from serious injuries that many believed would end his time at the highest level. That history made it impossible for him to walk away without first testing whether another recovery was possible. "For me, it's not that important. I am satisfied in one particular thing. First of all, you cannot predict what's going on one year before. You live day by day."
"What I did at the end of my career was make sure that I tried until the last moment. I went through all this process of recovering from important injuries a lot of times during my career. If I didn't explore that limit every single time, probably my career would have finished 15 years earlier.
The doctors gave me a chance that maybe I could come back to my highest level in terms of movement and feeling free to compete. But the truth is my body never came back to that point. My hip was not responding the proper way.
I needed to give myself that time to explore if I would be able to do it again or not. When I realized that my hip would not be the same anymore, I said, 'Okay, it's the moment to make the decision.'
My personal feeling is yes, I am happy with the way my career ended. It is an easy answer for me because today I am 100% sure there was nothing else there. There was nothing else in the tank to deliver on the professional level."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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