Rafael Nadal was recently in Melbourne, attending the 2026 Australian Open. While leaving the country, the Spaniard was surrounded by fans. Among them, a reporter asked if he could ask some questions. In response, Nadal, who was in a hurry, refused to answer any questions.
Nadal, who turned professional in 2001, has had a remarkable career, winning 22 singles Grand Slam titles. This includes 14 French Open titles, four U.S. Open titles, and two each at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal Refuses To Answer Reporter’s Questions While Flying Back Home From Australia
During his time in Melbourne, Nadal participated in the Australian Open’s ‘Night of Legends’ event, alongside Ashleigh Barty and Australian wheelchair tennis icon Dylan Alcott. He also attended the men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
While flying back from Australia and being escorted by security amid fan attention, Nadal was approached by a reporter seeking to ask questions. However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion apologized and politely declined to respond.
“I am so sorry. I (indiscernible) plenty of things. I am very sorry but I cannot,” Nadal said.
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Nadal retired from professional tennis in November 2024, after representing Spain in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Last year, while speaking to Vanity Fair, Nadal revealed that he hadn’t picked up a racket since his retirement but said he would return to the court for exhibition matches.
“I haven’t picked up a racket since I retired [laughs]. While I haven’t set foot on a tennis court, I know I’ll be back at some point to play an exhibition match or something like that, but I need time. So my daily routine isn’t a routine at all. Today I don’t have one, I’m just figuring out the next chapter of my professional life, working on projects like my academy, a hotel company, and the supplements company I created,” Nadal said.
The former World No. 1 mentioned that since retiring from professional tennis, he has more time to spend with his family and is trying to discover what genuinely motivates him.
“I’m also taking care of my foundation and my family, and I’m discovering what really motivates me. It’s not easy to figure out your next goal. But for me, it’s very important to have goals. Because, from my perspective, a life without goals is more difficult,” he added.
Nadal and his wife, Mery Francisca Perello, got married in October 2019. The couple welcomed their first son, Rafael Jr., in October 2022, and their second son, Miquel, was born in August 2025. The family resides in Mallorca, Spain.
