“You cannot film only the beautiful moments”: Rafael Nadal explains Netflix documentary choice

Rafael Nadal discussed the release of his Netflix documentary with Andy Roddick during a post-screening Q&A in the United States, reflecting on the personal and professional challenges that came with allowing cameras into one of the most sensitive periods of his career.

The conversation featured Nadal alongside director Zach Heinzerling, whose team followed the Spaniard throughout the 2024 season as he attempted to return from a hip injury that ultimately shaped the final chapter of his playing career. The project documents both his comeback effort and the uncertainty surrounding his retirement decision.

For Nadal, the series marked a clear departure from the privacy that defined much of his time on tour. Known for carefully controlling his environment and limiting access beyond official media duties, he opened up his family life, coaching team and inner circle to an extent rarely seen during his career at the top of the sport.

Andy Roddick highlighted how that contrast between Nadal’s public image and private reality had long been a feature of his career, noting that most fans only ever saw the competitive version of the Spaniard on court.

A year earlier, Netflix announced the launch of a documentary project covering the career of the 22-time Grand Slam champion, as well as the major off-court challenges he faced: family moments, internal team dynamics, injury setbacks, and periods of doubt that shaped one of the greatest careers in tennis history.

"For me it was a big decision. I'm more used to being in front of the cameras, but my concern was about my family, about my team,” he said in a conversation with former world No. 1 Andy Roddick. “When we are working, when we are having these conversations, we are just by ourselves. Having a camera there, listening, watching everything that is happening in every single moment is not an easy decision.”

“For me, the toughest part was not bothering the other people in their private moments. To be honest, we had a great team next to us. Zac and the rest of the team made things very easy for all of us.”

The former world No. 1 also revealed that many members of his team initially struggled with the presence of cameras. While some were accustomed to media attention after decades on tour, others, including medical staff and support personnel, were not.

That challenge extended beyond his team and into family life. Nadal said one positive aspect of the documentary is that his children will eventually be able to understand a part of his career that he rarely discusses himself.

"That will be a cool thing for them to have in the future,” he said. “I think it will be great because I'm not talking at all about myself. They can see it, but I am not the kind of guy that talks about what I did or what I don't. I just try to educate in the way that I think is better.”

One of the defining moments of the documentary came early in production when Nadal suffered another setback related to the hip injury that had already sidelined him for much of 2023.

When Roddick directly asked whether he enjoyed having the film crew around, Nadal's response was immediate: "100% no, to be honest." The remark drew laughter from the audience, but it underscored the reality of documenting a season filled with physical and emotional uncertainty.

"For me, the biggest challenge was the decision. I know myself, and when you decide to do something, either you do it properly or you don’t do it,” the 14-time Roland Garros champion said. “When I finally decided to move on and said, okay, let's do it, then I do it with all the consequences.

Sometimes you know that there are things you want to be filmed that you don't want to, but that's what's happening. When you are filming a documentary, you cannot film only the beautiful moments. You film the real things."

Heinzerling later revealed that Nadal largely trusted the creative process once filming was complete. According to the director, the 22-time major champion offered very few notes and left the overall editorial direction in the hands of the production team, despite being the central figure of the series.

Now two years removed from retirement, Nadal described a significantly different relationship with tennis. While he still follows major tournaments and marquee matches, he acknowledged that he no longer watches the sport on a weekly basis.

The Spaniard explained that much of his focus has shifted toward the Rafa Nadal Academy, which is currently undergoing expansion. "I don't follow tennis every week. I follow tennis tournaments that I like, matches that I am interested in.”

“For example, this week I watched probably more minutes of tennis than in the last six months,” he said during Roland Garros week. “But with zero hard feelings. I am not watching every week because I am not that much interested every week.”

“I am working every day at the academy. So I follow tennis in a different perspective. I am with kids, understanding what they need, trying to see the academy in a bigger picture because we are in the process of expansion."