Nadal on Sinner: They can reach finals even when not at their best, challengers are needed

The 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal gave an exclusive interview this week on the Spanish radio show "El Larguero," coinciding with his receipt of the 2025 AS Sports Legend Award. During the interview, the Spaniard discussed the current state of men's tennis, shared his views on compatriot Alcaraz, and reflected on life after retirement.

Nadal attends the AS annual awards ceremony

When asked whether he believes Alcaraz can match his record of 22 Grand Slam titles (Alcaraz currently holds 6), Nadal praised the young player highly: "22 Grand Slams? Why not? Six is already an outstanding achievement, and his career trajectory is remarkable. I think the key is staying healthy—if you avoid injuries, you can keep trusting your body and continue improving. His performance is impressive. Although I usually avoid setting overly high expectations, I have always thought he is exceptional and has the potential to make history in tennis."

Alcaraz and Sinner

When asked if he still follows tennis after retirement, Nadal said: "I watch some tennis now, picking matches that interest me." He further commented on how Sinner and Alcaraz currently dominate men's tennis: "I believe Sinner and Alcaraz need challengers... Fonseca? I think he's still young and not yet at their level. They definitely need opponents who can put pressure on them because these two have pulled ahead of others. No matter their form, they can beat anyone unless they face each other. As spectators, it seems even when they’re not at their best, they still keep winning and reach every final."

Nadal also analyzed recent changes in the Davis Cup format: "The Davis Cup used to be wonderful, but that was based on a fixed schedule and the continuous participation of top players. As top players gradually withdrew, its appeal faded. We often think the past was better, but that’s not really the case. The current format isn’t perfect, but the old one had flaws too."

Additionally, Nadal revealed his post-retirement tennis routine, planning to increase his playing frequency, and spoke about the possibility of sharing the exhibition stage with Federer and Djokovic.

"After retiring, I only played tennis for an hour and a half until two weeks ago when I picked up the racket again. I hope to practice once a week from now on, so if I want to compete in the future, I won’t be starting from scratch. The pain in my body still exists but has eased with reduced activity." Regarding future exhibition matches, he said: "Playing against Djokovic or Federer is entirely possible, but no one should expect us to perform at our former peak. If such opportunities arise, we will do our best to show our best form."

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, photos by Visual China)