“I would never have imagined that 2005 would have turned out the way it did.” But, it wasn’t just 2005, was it? Back then, 19-year-old Rafael Nadal never imagined he would continue to dominate the big stage of tennis with such force that he’d have the pleasure of receiving the Laureus Sports Award again, much less become its five-time award winner. While the feats from his breakthrough season still live young, his award presentation ceremony from 2011 holds a special place in a German icon’s memory.

The Laureus Sports Awards, popularly dubbed “The most prestigious award in the world of sport”, welcomed its then second-time winner Rafa after his impressive 2011 tour-level campaign on the tour. A disheartening start to the year, where he sustained an injury against Andy Murray at the season’s Australian Open, quickly turned the corner in successive months.

He recovered and clinched back-to-back wins in the clay season. The Spaniard lifted Masters titles in Rome, Monte Carlo and Madrid en route to his fifth French Open in six years. Those triumphs also helped Nadal dethrone Swiss Maestro Roger Federer as the World No. 1. Following his emergence as the first player to win a Career Grand Slam in a single year and finish the season as year-end No. 1, the prestigious awards honoured him during their ceremony in Abu Dhabi. What’s rather fascinating is that Boris Becker presented him with the award.

Subsequently, the German star added a throwback post on his Instagram story. “On this day in 2011, I was honoured to present @rafaelnadal with his first Laureus Sportsman Of the Year Award,” he wrote.

Nadal’s Laureus Award wins:

For those unaware, Nadal’s close friend and rival Federer holds the most number of Laureus Awards (6), whereas Golf legend Tiger Woods holds the highest number of award nominations (12). Last year, Federer and Nadal’s arch-rival, Novak Djokovic, won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award following the completion of his Career Golden Slam with an elusive Olympic gold medal victory in Paris.

So where is Rafa now?

With his professional tennis career now behind him, the Spaniard wants a life beyond the sport. And he proved that with his recent admission.

Rafael Nadal reveals taking a break from tennis – ‘Haven’t picked the racket since…’

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal called time on his career in November last year at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga where he played his final match against Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp. Marred with a series of physical concerns, which majorly included a hip injury, Rafa was high-key cornered into submission after he couldn’t revive his old magic upon returning to the circuit from his injury hiatus last year. 

Following his retirement, Nadal hasn’t marked his attendance in the sport, even as a spectator. While fans continued to speculate what’s next on his agenda, the Spaniard put all discussions to rest after revealing that he is using his post-retirement life, not focus on a life beyond tennis. “I have not picked up a racket since my farewell in Malaga. I will at some point, but I’m only playing with my son at home for now. I’m trying to organize myself outside of the sporting life.”

He continued, “I already have a lot of work commitments that I can not avoid. I also need time to decide what my next projects would look like.” Nadal wasn’t kidding when he said that his calendar was packed. Just days ago, reports suggested that the 24-time major winner sold a 45% portion of his ‘Rafa Nadal Academy’ in Mallorca for a massive $103M profit to an investment group called GPF.

For now, chances for Rafa’s return to the sport seem slim. However, he could likely come back to tennis for an exhibition event or an event spectator sometime in the future. What do you make of that possibility? Do let us know in the comments.