“I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience. Everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” said Rafael Nadal in his retirement announcement last year on October 10. The Spanish generational talent brought his storied career to a close on home soil in Malaga, where he represented Spain for the last time alongside Carlos Alcaraz at the Davis Cup. The heavy-hitting lefty – a 92-time tour-level champion who spent 209 weeks at No. 1 in the world rankings – became one of the brightest lights guiding the tour since turning pro in 2001. He garnered huge popularity with fans, so naturally, honoring his legacy called for a fitting ceremony before he bade farewell. However, what the Spaniard didn’t know was a surprise induction to the list of prolific torchbearers at the Paris Olympics.

Since retiring, Rafa has focused on organizing his life beyond the court. He spends time with his family of three, including his wife Maria Francisca Perello and a baby boy the couple welcomed in October 2022, but also dedicates time to expanding his diverse business portfolios. Just recently, the former World No. 1 reportedly sold nearly half his stake (44.9%) in the Rafa Nadal Academy for close to $100 million to a private investment firm, GPF Capital. And now, Rafa has finally reserved some time to reflect on the last year of his career, where he attempted to restore his formidable status on the men’s tour following a major surgery.

Speaking to American icon Andy Roddick on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick podcast,’ Nadal revealed he didn’t know about the surprise Olympic ceremony until the 11th hour. The veteran lit the Olympic cauldron after French football great Zinedine Zidane handed him the Olympic torch during the quadrennial event’s opening ceremony in Paris. This beautiful gesture – executed to honor his unparalleled legacy – reduced him to tears as the ceremony moved to the promenade before the Eiffel Tower.

“I received a phone call from the team, from the president of the organization, the Olympic Committee in French, that tell me, we want you to be part of the ceremony. I say, okay, for me it will be an honour,” Nadal said. “They wanted to be completely secret, you know, like a surprise. I was nervous. When I realised the moment, I started to cry a little bit before. And, when I start to cry, I say, shut up, man. Stop it. It’s not the moment to cry. It’s the moment to enjoy. It was amazing. I was emotional. But I was so proud for you and for our sport to have that representation.”

For those unaware, injuries played a major role in Nadal’s retirement decision. Despite being inactive for a year after a recurring hip injury hampered his Australian Open campaign in 2022, the Spanish legend never got the chance to be as competitive as before. He hasn’t been tempted to pick up a racket since but is still fit and skilful. Just days ago, he posted a video on social media playing padel with former coach Carlos Moya and colleagues at his academy in Mallorca.

Though he is focused on following up on his retirement plans, Rafa couldn’t help but revisit old wounds.

Rafael Nadal realised his career was ‘over’ following the Paris Olympics in 2024

During the same conversation with Roddick, Nadal revealed the exact time he knew his reign was over and decided to call time on his career for good. Rafa partnered with countryman Alcaraz for a doubles blockbuster at the Games and even participated in the singles category. However, he couldn’t play without “limitations” due to his fitness and subsequently lost to arch-rival Novak Djokovic in the second round. Moreover, his bid for a doubles Olympic gold was to no avail after the duo lost in the quarterfinals against seasoned doubles players Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

Addressing his journey post-recovery, Nadal admitted to calling it quits after realising he couldn’t move as freely at the Olympics. “All these months had been difficult because in some way I felt at some point maybe that it’s going to go well, I was able to compete, but I was not able to compete at the level that I wanted for different reasons, because I was not playing well maybe,” he said.

Continuing further, the Spaniard added, “Inside myself, I was not able to move the way that I was used to moving. After Olympics, I came back home and said it’s over, I feel it. Before I didn’t feel it, I wanted to give myself the time. After that, I say okay, it doesn’t make sense, I don’t feel like with this issue I’m going to come back and be competitive at the level that motivates me. When I felt that, it was over.”

Regardless, Nadal retired as both an Olympic and tennis legend. Though he couldn’t add more to his medal tally in Paris, Rafa previously won a singles gold in the 2008 Beijing Games and another one at the 2016 Rio Games in doubles alongside compatriot Marc Lopez. Nadal, a unique athlete, truly earned his flowers from his homeland and etched his name in history books as one of the most inspiring tales the sporting world ever witnessed.