Rafael Nadal opens up about lingering pain as he returns to the tennis court after retirement
Rafael Nadal recently stepped back onto the court, marking his first appearance in a year since stepping away from professional tennis. The 22-time Grand Slam champion retired at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, when Spain were edged out by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
After taking time off to rest during his first year of retirement, Nadal barely touched a racket until recently. He spent the period coaching two of his academy talents, Alexandra Eala and Alina Korneeva, and then resumed practice with them.
In a discussion about those sessions, the 39-year-old shed light on whether pain still accompanies his time on court.
Nadal confirms ongoing pain
Speaking to El Larguero, Nadal gave a fitness update to his fans and followers.
“Since I retired, I’ve only played tennis for about an hour and a half in total over the last two weeks,” he said.
“I played with two girls from the academy. I felt more like a sparring partner than a player, there mainly to support their training.”
“I enjoyed it. It was nicer to pick up a racket again, and more enjoyable than using the elliptical.”
He added, “I’d like to play once a week from now on so I don’t have to start from scratch if I ever decide to return.”
“I’m in pain, obviously, but taking frequent breaks has helped ease the discomfort.”
Nadal has also expressed interest in exhibition matches with his long-time rival Roger Federer. Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, indicated openness to such a tour, suggesting that a Fedal exhibition series could be on the horizon.
The two legends shared numerous battles during their careers, and there remains significant interest in a modern reunion on court.
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Nadal and Federer would likely attract sold-out venues worldwide, regardless of age.
Whether Nadal will commit to any exhibitions in the coming year remains to be seen, but his current focus appears to be mentoring some of the brightest talents at his academy.
Curious about the players Nadal trained with last month? Here’s a quick look.
Who are Alexandra Eala and Alina Korneeva?
Alexandra Eala rose to prominence earlier in the year at the Miami Open, defeating three Grand Slam champions—Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Świątek—to qualify for the semifinals in Florida. She narrowly missed a place in the final after a dramatic three-set loss to Jessica Pegula.
Eala continued her ascent, reaching her first tour-level final at Eastbourne. She also ended the year strongly, claiming her first Challenger title in Guadalajara and climbing to world No. 50 in the rankings.
Rankings snapshot (end of 2025 season)
- 46 Laura Siegemund (Germany) 1,214 points
- 47 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 1,184
- 48 Katerina Siniakova (Czechia) 1,172
- 49 Emiliana Arango (Colombia) 1,161
- 50 Alexandra Eala (Philippines) 1,140
- 51 Anastasia Potapova (Russia) 1,131
- 52 Maria Sakkari (Greece) 1,116
- 53 Janice Tjen (Indonesia) 1,106
- 54 Cristina Bucsa (Spain) 1,098
- 55 Magda Linette (Poland) 1,089
Alina Korneeva, Nadal’s other practice partner, is currently ranked 216th in the world. The Russian teenager captured two junior Grand Slam titles but has yet to replicate that success on the professional tour.
Korneeva spent the year competing in a mix of Challenger events and WTA Tour events, without qualifying for the main draw of any of the three Grand Slams she attended. Still, her potential is evident, and time will reveal how quickly she adapts to the higher physical demands of the WTA Tour.
Expect Korneeva to leverage the experience gained from training with Nadal as she returns to competition in 2026.
