Rafael Nadal won the hearts of tennis fans across the globe during his career, winning 22 Grand Slams and multiple Davis Cup titles.
The Spaniard, who was once tipped to win all four majors in one year, retired from his playing career in 2024 following Spain’s exit from the Davis Cup Finals at the hands of the Netherlands.
Has there ever been a sadder retirement than Rafael Nadal’s in 2024?
Nadal won his first Grand Slam in 2005 at the French Open, and would go on to win a further 13 Roland Garros titles, his last being in 2022.
In 2006, the youngster was looking to win yet another clay-court event at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Ahead of the event, Nadal spoke about his goals for the future.
Rafael Nadal said his happiness was his goal
Speaking to The Times in April 2006, Nadal said: “My goal in life when I was a young boy was to be happy. My goal now? To be happy. Nothing has changed. I have got better at tennis, but that is all. Nothing in me has changed. People think they will meet me and I will be a different person, but I won’t. I am the same. I still want nothing more than to be happy.”
“My family make me happy. It is my No 1 wish for them to be all healthy. For my friends to be happy. For me to be able to play tennis.”
“What more could anyone want?” he asks. To beat Federer and become the world’s No 1 player? “That would be good. That could help me to be happy.
“I am serious, though, when I say I think first of my family and that they are most important to me. In Manacor I’m normal. People have known me since I was a little kid. They congratulate me when I win something, but treat me like everybody else. I have the same plans for my life as everyone else.”
A few days prior, Nadal had lost to Roger Federer in the Miami Open final: 2–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–1. Nadal never won the Miami Open – the tournament is one of three Masters 1000 events the Spaniard failed to capture during his career.
Nadal won the Monte-Carlo Masters and French Open
The youngster bounced back emphatically, winning the Monte-Carlo Masters for the second time in his career.
Nadal, who defeated Federer in the final, triumphed on seven consecutive occasions in Monaco, from 2005 to 2012.
Can you think of a more shocking Rafael Nadal moment in his career?
Just over a month later, Nadal won a second straight French Open title. The Spaniard defeated Federer once again, this time by a scoreline of 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6.
Nadal had also defeated Federer in the Italian Open final a few weeks prior.
