“You Get Tired Of Having Pain”- Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest names to have ever donned the tennis gear. At 33 years of age and more than a decade of experience, the Spaniard is still enjoying a purple patch in his career. However, the path to the top is always full of roadblocks. The World Number One recently opened up on the amount of pain that he has gone through and how his method to deal with it has changed over the years.

“I Have More Pain Now Than When I Was 20″

Rafael Nadal feels that the amount of pain that he has to go through has increased over the years. This includes not only the physical wear and tear that is an indispensable part of being a regular tennis player. It also includes the amount of scrutiny that every action or statement of the kingpin of tennis faces.

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Rafael Nadal confessed that he has more pain now than when he was 20. However, he also clarified that the capacity to bear the pain also increases with time.

“There Are Better And Worse Times”

Nadal said that a person eventually gets tired of bearing pain. However, he says that he says that he has reached a level of maturity where he ventilates his problems only when they get really bad. “There are better and worse times and when I say I’m in pain, it’s because I’m coming from a very bad period.”

Rafael Nadal added that the reason for developing such an attitude is to avoid self pity. “I don’t like complaining, pitying myself, but if I say it, that means I can’t bear it anymore”.

What Does The Future Hold For Rafael Nadal?

Rafael Nadal ended the 2019 season as the world no 1 by running through all competition. The passion displayed by the Spaniard at this point in his career is  remarkable. It was recently on display as he won the Mubadla World Championship by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a closely contested final.

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Nadal is in no mood to vacate the no 1 position. However, the threats of his counterparts in the big 3 loom large. Young guns like Tsitsipas, Thiem and Medvedev are also looking to end the Big 3 monopoly. The first major test for Nadal in this quest will be the Australian Open.

Do you think Rafael Nadal can end 2020 as the World No. 1?