Rafael Nadal might be done with tennis, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with sport. The 38-year-old brought the curtain down on one of the finest tennis careers the game has ever witnessed earlier this month after Spain were knocked out of the Davis Cup at the quarter-final stage by the Netherlands.
For many, retirement offers them the chance to put their feet up and relax – but that’s never really been Nadal’s style. Days later, he was back into the swing of things (literally), competing at an amatuer golf tournament, the Hexagonal Circuit Q-Romia de Son Servera, in his native Mallorca, where golf enjoys a vibrant following.
Nadal, who has a long-standing passion for golf, finished eighth in the handicap category after registering a score of 76, four strokes over par. He managed to birdie two par 5s as well as a par 3, helping helped his team, the Rafael Nadal Academy, finish fourth overall.
With his tennis career now firmly in the rear-view mirror, the 22-time Grand Slam champion is free to focus on other pursuits and it’s understood he’s considering taking part in two upcoming golf tournaments; LIV Golf Valderrama and the Acciona Open in Madrid.
At its best, Nadal’s handicap has hovered around the -1.0 mark, which is better than a lot of professional players. Despite being a left-handed tennis player, Nadal, who names Tiger Woods as one of his sporting idols, plays golf with his right hand.
He competed in his first proper tournament way back in 2012, when he was at the peak of his tennis powers. He’s had something of an on-off relationship with the sport ever since, but continues to play a lot in his free time.
In 2020, he took part in the prestigious Balearic Golf Championship. Despite going up against a number of experienced professionals, he managed to finish sixth. He’s also a regular at the Sant Sebastià Amateur Golf Championship, which, like the Balearic Golf Championship, is held in Mallorca.
Nadal’s success underscores his versatility as an athlete. His performance in the sport exemplifies his adaptability and unrelenting competitive spirit, making him an intriguing figure beyond tennis.
Sporting prowess runs in the Nadal family. Rafael’s uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, played football for Barcelona, Mallorca and Spain, while another uncle Toni Nadal, became his long-time tennis coach.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk