Rafael Nadal bids for Australian Open today against Daniil Medvedev. The Spaniard is potentially only three sets away from a record 21st Grand Slam title – pulling away from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on 20 each. The ‘Big Three’ cliche has been part of tennis for over a decade now, and Nadal can cement his status as the most successful tennis star of all time with victory in Melbourne today.
Federer turns 41 this year and has just undergone a third major knee operation and Djokovic faces being banned from Grand Slams over his refusal to have the coronavirus vaccine.
Nadal, 35, still looks fighting fit and in sensational form, but he is not getting any younger.
While he admitted in October that he hopes to play for a few more years yet, speculation remains as to when he will call it a day.
Nadal’s coach and former world number one Carlos Moyá was asked about what he sees Nadal doing in a 2020 interview.
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He told Spanish publication Las Provincias: “He has his academy next to his house, which is going to be his legacy to tennis and he will surely enjoy it.
“[Then] that and other businesses that are already emerging [for him].
“He will be presented with opportunities. It is clear that he will continue to be linked to sport.
“I honestly do not see him as a politician. I don’t think it’s something that appeals to him, but that’s my point of view.”
He has pledged to spend “more time” on his foundation — Fundación Rafa Nadal — which supports economically disadvantaged children.
His mother, Ana María Parera, chairs the charity and his father Sebastian is vice-chairman.
Alternatively, it has previously been suggested that Nadal could switch his focus to football upon hanging up his racket.
He is a passionate Real Madrid supporter, and the club’s former manager Jose Mourinho revealed Nadal could have had a successful football career — his uncle played more than 200 games for Barcelona in an impressive career.
Nadal hinted at a possible bid to become the club’s president in a 2017 interview with Marca.
He told the newspaper: “You never know what can happen. Everyone knows I’m passionate about football and Real Madrid is my team. Talking about it now is a utopia, but if you ask me, of course I would like to be president.”
Current Real chief Florentino Perez is in his second term in charge of Los Blancos, and has spent hundreds of millions bringing the world’s best players to the Spanish capital.
He has broken the world record transfer fee on numerous occasions, including the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale for £80 million and £85 million respectively.
His tenure, however, has not been without controversy. In April last year Perez was named first chairman of the European Super League, a controversial breakaway plot involving some of the biggest clubs across the continent.
The plot ultimately failed after near universal opposition saw nine of the 12 founding members withdrawing their support for the plans.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus continue to back the proposals, and are reported to have held recent meetings in an attempt to revive their plans.
Perez, 74, is believed to be the driving force behind the latest attempts.
Coverage of Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev will be available on Eurosport.