Rafael Nadal does it because he couldn’t handle the…

Two-time Roland Garros finalist Alex Corretja lavished praise on compatriot Rafael Nadal in a recent interview with the No Tiene Nombre podcast. Corretja was in awe of how the 21-time Grand Slam champion continues to give his best even after achieving everything there is to achieve in tennis.

According to Corretja, the former World No. 1 persisted in his pursuit because he could “never forgive himself” if he had even a semblance of doubt that he gave up without giving everything he had to offer the game.

The former World No. 2 further declaredthat the only reason the Mallorcan is still fighting tooth and nail on the tennis court is because of his unbridled love and passion for the sport. The Spaniard emphasized how Nadal no longer has any financial need to be playing his best day in and day out, implying that only his innate hunger to win keeps him going.

Rafael Nadal does it because he couldn’t handle the…

“Rafael Nadal [keeps on fighting to be the best even after achieving everything in tennis] out of love. For the enthusiasm and passion that he feels for tennis and for the awareness of it,” Corretja said. “I think Rafa does it because he would never forgive himself for withdrawing and thinking that he still had something left.

He has no financial need, has only the internal need to believe that he has something that he wants to squeeze out. That’s a commitment.”

Alex Corretja also touched on the 2022 Australian Open final between the former World No. 1 and current World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, where the 35-year-old overturned a two-set deficit to win his 21st Grand Slam title.