After putting an end to one of the most legendary careers in sports, Rafa Nadal has started to write a new chapter in his life. The former Mallorcan tennis player is the protagonist of the first episode of a podcast series launched by NDL PRO-HEALTH and Cantabria Labs.
This charitable project will bring together figures from health, sports, and the business world. This way, it seeks to raise funds for social initiatives of the Rafa Nadal Foundation and the Cantabria Labs Foundation.
Rafa Nadal's new life
In this context, Rafa Nadal has opened about his day-to-day life after leaving the professional circuit. Far from tournaments and pressure, he confesses that he is still adapting. "It's hard to say what my day-to-day is like right now, because there isn't a routine like there was before."
"It's a period of doing a lot of things and also of understanding a little bit what I like more and less. The adaptation has been good, quick, so far happy, but I still haven't had the ability to establish a daily routine," he explained.
Even though he has hung up his racket, Nadal hasn't left sports behind. "After retirement, I spent a few months doing very small workouts, honestly. Now I've started again a little bit, not tennis, which at some point I'll play tennis again."
"I haven't picked up the racket, but what I am doing is getting my body back a bit, going to the gym three times a week. I train from 8:30 to 10 in the morning, because if I leave it for later, there are always excuses not to follow through."
Rafa Nadal confirms all the rumors about his son with Xisca Perelló
In addition to the gym, he combines strength and cardio routines, and keeps specific exercises to protect his shoulders and knees. Although training is no longer a professional obligation, getting up early still is: "Now I have the little boy who wakes me up," he says, laughing.
Fatherhood has changed his pace of life. "I like to pick up the little boy from school, I do it every time I can." The arrival of his son hasn't transformed his worldview, but it has impacted his lifestyle.
"What I thought: 'I'm going to finish my career and I'm going to play golf four times a week or five'... Well, in the end, because of work and because you want to be at home with him, I end up playing twice."
Nadal has also revealed his fondness for cooking and his love for the sea: "I like to cook from time to time. Fish, here we make fish rice, fish soup... Fish rice is typical here, we make it like the fishermen have always done."
"If I'm with friends and I have to spend three hours in the kitchen, I do it gladly." However, he admits his weakness: "Indulgence? Almost every day, I really like chocolate, especially with milk, unfortunately."
Although he isn't considering being a coach yet, he doesn't rule anything out: "You never know... It's hard, honestly, I don't see myself doing it today, I have too many things to think about that now. But tennis is a part of my life, so I won't say no to what might happen in a few years."