Since then, the 39-year-old has been filling his time in various ways. While he was always a keen golfer, even during his tennis career, the Spaniard has increased his hours on the golf course since retiring from tennis.
Nadal insists he only plays for enjoyment but he’s been dedicating more and more time to the greens and watching plenty of the sport on TV since hanging up his racket. And he admits that has been much to his wife Maria Francisca Perello’s frustration.
During a charity tournament in Madrid earlier this month, he said: “I follow golf every week and my wife suffers because of it. I watched [former PGA world No 1 and two-time major winner] Jon Rahm play this week in Riyadh; he had a spectacular finish to the round and almost won. I generally enjoy following it.”
The tennis hero, who presented his new charity golf circuit Spin and Swing in Mallorca last week, also revealed he had received wildcard offers in the past to play in professional events because tennis was his priority. Proceeds from his event went to the Rafael Nadal Foundation, with the Spaniard highlighting that the project stems from his deep passion for golf.
The King of Clay explained: “I’ve been offered an invitation several times but so far the circumstances haven’t been right. You never know in the future but I would have to feel like I was playing without making a fool of myself and with the hope of at least being able to compete, even if it’s just against myself.”