Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has gone through different emotions during his illustrious tennis career. From the joy and elation of victory to the sadness of defeats and injuries, he has experienced it all. In a career spanning over two decades, Nadal has gone on to become one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. Despite this, the Spaniard once faced a bizarre experience.

In 2009, Nadal was on a winning streak that spanned across the Australian Open, the Indian Wells Masters, Monte-Carlo, and Rome. However, the Spaniard was depressed despite his immense success on the court. Here’s why.

Rafael Nadal made a saddening confession

In his Autobiography, Rafa: My Story, Nadal has revealed candid moments in his life and tennis career. One such moment was highlighted by him when he didn’t feel joy after his victories.

Nadal explained, “I was on a winning streak, and the positive momentum carried me through for a couple of months. I won in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome, and more surprisingly, I won on the hard surface of Indian Wells.”

Further, he went on to add, “I felt no elation at the moment of victory, but my body somehow kept going through the motions. My attitude was bad. I was depressed, lacking in enthusiasm. On the surface I remained a tennis-playing automaton, but the man inside had lost all love of life.”

Around the same time, Nadal’s father had moved out of their Porto Cristo home. As a result, he felt the impact of his parents’ separation on his game. In the same book, Nadal further revealed the painful emotions that went through him due to his parents’ divorce.

How did Nadal feel about his parents’ divorce?

In his Autobiography, the Spanish tennis legend narrated the saddening ordeal in the aftermath of his parents’ divorce. While Rafael Nadal had his career in front of him, he was severely affected by the personal problems that were going on in his life.

Nadal revealed, “Suddenly, and utterly without warning, the happy family portrait had cracked. Our whole world was destabilized, and contact between members of the family became, for the first time that I had been aware of, awkward and unnatural; no one knew at first how to react.”

DIVE DEEPER: Rafael Nadal’s Parents Divorce – Did it Affect Rafa’s Performance?

Despite the tough times, Rafael Nadal emerged stronger and went on to achieve massive success during his illustrious career. Indeed, he is a legend in the true sense.