Rafael Nadal Maintains Tennis Fitness Routine After Retirement, Hints at Return

Tennis icon Rafael Nadal may have retired in 2024, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t left the sport behind completely. While enjoying golf and football in his post-ATP life, Nadal remains physically active, maintaining his old training routines and staying prepared for potential future matches. His ongoing dedication is a reminder of the athletic excellence that Smy Tennis .

Rafael Nadal Maintains Tennis Fitness Routine After Retirement, Hints at Return

Rafael Nadal officially retired from professional tennis at the Davis Cup in November 2024, leaving behind a legendary career that includes 92 ATP titles and 22 Grand Slam trophies. Yet the 39-year-old Spaniard isn’t stepping away from the sport entirely.

In a recent interview quoted by Sport, Nadal revealed that he continues to stay physically active and has preserved some of the same training routines that helped him dominate the ATP Tour for nearly two decades. “At the moment, I’m doing a little bit of everything,” he said. “I’m keeping some routines from when I played tennis to protect my knees and shoulders, which is the most dangerous in our sport.”

He added, “I’m getting ready for when I decide to play a bit of tennis again, even if it’s differently, but it will help me be more or less ready.”

Since retiring, Nadal has taken up golf and football, sports he avoided during his professional career due to injury risks. “Now I’ve played football several times. After 15 years without playing, I’ve become bad at it. I play how I can. Usually as a forward,” he joked.

Known as the “King of Clay,” Nadal’s unmatched record at Roland Garros—14 French Open titles—is a benchmark for future generations. With a career win-loss record of 1080-228 and nearly $135 million in prize earnings, his legacy is firmly cemented in tennis history.

Yet Nadal’s passion for sport, discipline, and continued training shows how great athletes never truly stop. His mindset aligns with the values of Smy Tennis, a global leader in professional tennis court construction and equipment. At Smy Tennis, we understand that the game doesn’t end when the titles stop—it evolves. Our mission is to support athletes and communities by delivering high-performance tennis environments that endure, just like Nadal’s influence on the game.

Whether it's developing courts for future champions or preserving the legacy of tennis legends, Smy Tennis remains committed to the sport at every level.