Rafael Nadal has moved on from his professional tennis career to life away from the spotlight. In a recent interview with AS magazine, where he received the Legend Award 2025, the tennis champion talked about his life now that he has retired. Speaking in Madrid at an event honoring his career, Nadal discussed his family, what he is doing these days, and how he thinks about his life after leaving professional tennis.
Rafael Nadal Gives His Views on Parenting and Fatherhood
Nadal has spent most of his life chasing excellence on tennis courts against the best players in the world. When he was asked about his role as a father and his expectations of his two sons, the tennis great gave a straightforward answer that stands in contrast to his demanding nature on court.
“I have no expectations,” Nadal said. “It’s something everyone does, for better or worse. I suppose I’ll be an average father: neither very bad nor very good.” It was a striking shift from his playing days, where he set high standards for himself in every area. Rather than placing huge demands on himself as a parent, Nadal seems comfortable with a more normal approach to raising his children.
MORE: Rafael Nadal Gives His Honest Opinion on Differences Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
He has always had a natural way with kids. “I’ve always loved children and have had a good connection with them,” he said. With his youngest son, Miquel, who was born in August 2025 and was only three and a half months old at the time of the interview, the bond is still developing. His three-year-old son, Rafael Jr., on the other hand, is at a stage where they can really interact. “With my three-year-old, I have a great time,” he said.
When it comes to teaching his children right from wrong, Nadal takes a practical approach. “I try to raise him with the values I believe are appropriate. I hope to be one of those parents who can tell when their children are doing things right or wrong, and to recognize these things consistently, without assuming they’re doing everything perfectly just because they’re yours,” the Spaniard said.
That way of thinking shows he wants to be honest with his children about their behavior rather than letting parental love blind him to what they are actually doing.
MORE: Rafael Nadal Unlikely to Give Everything Up and Coach Carlos Alcaraz, Says Former British Pro
Nadal’s Life Beyond Tennis
Nadal stepped away from professional tennis in November 2024, ending a career of more than twenty years. He married Maria Francisca Perelló in 2019 and the couple have two children. Their first son, Rafael Jr., was born in October 2022 during Nadal’s playing career. In August 2025, the couple welcomed their second son, Miquel, born at Quironsalud Palmaplanas Hospital in Palma.
Since retiring, Nadal has settled into life away from tennis without much struggle and makes sure to keep his afternoons free for family time. The Spaniard remains connected to tennis through his academy in Manacor, which operates 45 tennis courts and 19 padel courts. In 2025, he sold a stake in the academy to investment firm GPF Capital for around €95 million.
