Rafael Nadal set for new job seven months after iconic tennis star's retirement
Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from tennis in November last year at the age of 38 but it appears that the Spaniard is now in high demand just a few months on from his bombshell announcemen
Rafael Nadal is set to be offered a special role at Roland Garros just months after he retired from tennis. The 22-time Grand Slam winner announced his decision to hang up his racket in October last year.
The 38-year-old's final appearance on court came at last year's Davis Cup finals before the Spaniard bid farewell to the sport. But it appears that he won't be away from the spotlight for very long at all.
The iconic former star featured in a special on court-presentation on day one of the French Open alongside former opponents Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. A plaque was unveiled in honour of the 14-time winner, with event boss Amelie Mauresmo suggesting that Nadal could be in line for a new role at Roland Garros.
She said: 'It's now the common desire of the tournament and of Rafa to have some form of collaboration. We focused on what was happening this year with the communications campaign and homage.
'But we will resume our discussions so this story the tournament has had with Rafa over the past 20 years may continue in one way or another.'
Nadal confirmed his retirement from tennis in October last year in an emotional video to fans, explaining that his chronic injury issues had just grown too much to cope with. Speaking in February, he revealed he was enjoying his retirement and was now almost pain-free.
He said: 'Now I'm slightly in pain, I'm honestly not pushing myself. I'm living with very little pain and that's very important to me.
'In the end, getting up and walking down the stairs normally is huge progress for me in my daily life, being able to live with the peace of not being in too much pain.'
'I just retired, three months ago, and changes take time,' the Spaniard added. 'For me personally, I had respect for what the change would be, but I'm very happy in this new stage of my life.
'We'll take it day by day, there are a lot of things to get used to and, in some ways, I have to discover what I'm really motivated to do in this new life. I'm confident it will also be exciting.'
Nadal won his first French Open title in 2005, with his final crown coming in 2022. Djokovic won the following tournament but Carlos Alcaraz has since claimed the baton for Spain. He has won the last two French Open titles including this year after beating Italian star Jack Sinner in an epic five-hour final.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
23 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
QPR to appoint former Champions League manager, 44, who launched Real Madrid star's career after Marti Cifuentes axe
The Frenchman has been out of work since last November POWER RANGER QPR to appoint former Champions League manager, 44, who launched Real Madrid star's career after Marti Cifuentes axe Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) QPR are set to name former Rennes and Strasbourg boss Julien Stephan as the club's new head coach. Rangers placed Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave in April after Sunsport revealed he was close to quitting the club following a breakdown in his relationship with 27-year-old chief executive Christian Nourry. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Julien Stephan is set to be unveiled as the new boss of QPR Credit: AFP or licensors 2 The former Rennes boss has worked with talent such as Eduardo Camavinga (middle) Credit: AFP The decision to stand down Cifuentes came after the Spaniard's representatives made contact with West Brom following Tony Mowbray's sacking last month. West Brom have since appointed Ryan Mason as their new boss. But with no chance of a thawing in relations between Nourry and Cifuentes, Rangers turned their attention to Stephan. The 44-year-old has been keen to work in England since being sacked by Ligue 1 side Rennes last November. Stephan guided Rennes to the knock-out stages of the Europa League for the first time in 2018 where they lost 4-3 to Arsenal. A year later he led the club to victory over PSG in the French Cup final. The Frenchman also spent two seasons with Strasbourg before returning to his former club in 2023. Stephan brought a host of big-name stars through the ranks at Rennes. He was responsible for launching the career of Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga, and worked with Barcelona playmaker Raphinha. And he also worked with Serhu Guirassy, Jeremy Doku and Ismaila Sarr. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Stephan has agreed terms on a two-year deal with the Championship club. QPR have been out of the top flight since relegation from the Premier League in 2015. 'Egg and flour attack sparked training ground wars' | QPR captain Steve Cook plays What the EFL?! They are preparing for their 11th-straight season in the Championship, with just two top-half finishes in that time. Last season they finished 15th, six points clear of the relegation zone but ten behind the playoff places in what was ultimately a disappointing campaign. Cifuente was placed on gardening leave in April, with the club recently releasing a host of players.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal legend, 40, sends club to play-off final with stunning WEAKER-FOOT free kick
Star penned a message to fans after the match STILL GOT IT STILL GOT IT Arsenal legend, 40, sends club to play-off final with stunning WEAKER-FOOT free kick AN Arsenal legend rolled back the years as he fired his boyhood club one step closer to promotion to LaLiga. Santi Cazorla scored the decisive goal in Real Oviedo's play-off semi-final against Almeria. 4 Santi Cazorla scored a free-kick with his weaker foot Credit: x @PremSportsTV 4 The goal helped Real Oviedo close in on promotion to LaLiga Credit: x @PremSportsTV Oviedo went into the second leg of the tie with a slim advantage thanks to Nacho Vidal's brace in the 2-1 away victory. However, back at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere, the hosts were pegged back as Gonzalo Melero netted from the spot in the first half. Cazorla, 40, was presented with an opportunity to restore the aggregate lead in the 49th minute after Oviedo were awarded a free kick just outside the box. The Spaniard lined up to take the set-piece and struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner with his WEAK FOOT. READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS PARTY Arsenal's Raya dresses as air stewardess and serves passengers on Vegas stag do The midfielder is predominantly right-footed but has trained himself to use his left just as well. Fans were left in awe on social media as they reacted to Cazorla's goal. One posted: "With his 'weaker' foot as well." A second wrote: "Classic Santi, why do something with his right foot when he can do it just as easily with his left God, I miss watching this genius at Arsenal." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS A third commented: "Could have hit it with his right foot equally as well as the left. What a player." A fourth said: "Left foot, right foot - it don't matter." David Raya reveals Arsenal career changed overnight following two-hour meeting 4 Cazorla spent six years at Arsenal earlier in his career Credit: Getty 4 He won the FA Cup twice while in North London Credit: Getty Another added: "Class is permanent." It is not the first time that Cazorla has shown off his ability with his weaker foot. One famous instance was when he switched feet when taking a corner during his time at Arsenal. Oveido held on to draw the match 1-1 and seal the 3-2 aggregate win in order to set up a play-off final against either Real Racing Club or CD Mirandes. After the match, Cazorla took to social media to pen a message to the club's fans. He wrote: "Thank you, thank you, and a million thanks. "You deserve the best and we will try once more." Cazorla signed for Arsenal back in 2012 from Malaga, having previously played in the academy of Oviedo between 1996 and 2003. He made 180 appearances for the Gunners and scored 29 goals and provided 44 assists. He left North London in 2018 and spent two years at Villarreal before a three-year stint with Al-Sadd in Qatar. Cazorla made his emotional return to Oviedo in 2023 on an initial one-year contract. He is paid the minimum of £80,000 a year, having originally tried to play for the club for FREE. He has overcome multiple injuries to continue his career into his forties. He played with a cracked bone during an international friendly between Spain and Chile in 2013. In 2016, he underwent surgery on the damaged ankle but was struck with an infection, further complicating his recovery. This would, unfortunately, become a running theme for Cazorla, who endured a number of reopened wounds, gangrene and bacterial infections. One such infection had eaten away at his Achilles tendon, spreading to the bone and putting him in danger of losing his leg. Since his original injury, Cazorla had a total of 10 operations including one skin-graft procedure which removed flesh from his left forearm removing his tattoo dedicated to his daughter India. Cazorla's career Villarreal 330 games, 57 goals, 57 assists Arsenal 180 games, 29 goals, 45 assists, 2x FA Cups, 2x Community Shield Al Sadd 97 games, 39 goals, 36 assists, 2x Qatar league titles, 2x Qatar Cup Malaga 42 games, 9 goals, 8 assists Recreativo Huelva 34 games, 5 goals, 0 assists Real Oviedo 59 games, 3 goals, 9 assists Spanish National Team 81 games, 15 goals, 11 assists, 2x European Championships Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Arsenal target Rodrygo drops hint on his future after meeting with Xabi Alonso
Arsenal transfer target Rodrygo has dropped a hint on his Real Madrid future after his first meeting with his new manager Xabi Alonso. The Brazil international endured a difficult end to last season when his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti appeared to have soured. Rodrygo didn't feature at all in the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona and was subsequently forced to dismiss speculation that he had decided he had already played his last match for Real. That public declaration has done little to quell the rumours that the 24-year-old is considering a change of clubs this summer. Arsenal are in the market for a wide forward and are reported to be the club most likely to make a significant bid for Rodrygo should Real be open to a sale. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Chelsea, as well as several clubs in Saudi Arabia, are also monitoring Rodrygo's situation but Marca claim he is currently happy at the club he joined as a teenager back in 2019 after talks with Alonso. It remains to be seen whether or not he features prominently in Alonso's plans but reports in Spain on Wednesday claimed he was unlikely to feature in the Spaniard's ideal starting XI for next season. Rodrygo will get an early chance to impress the former Bayer Leverkusen boss in the coming weeks at the Club World Cup where he is set to feature prominently. Arsenal, meanwhile, will hope for change of heart from a player Mikel Arteta is keen on signing but in the meantime are likely to press ahead with their efforts to recruit a new centre forward. Benjamin Sesko appears to be the Gunners' first choice but they are maintaining an interest in Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres whose relationship with the Portuguese club is deteriorating. Martin Zubimendi, meanwhile, is likely to join in July ahead of pre-season, despite late interest from Real, and Kepa Arrizabalaga will sign from Chelsea to compete with David Raya for the No.1 spot. Arsenal also hope to retain the services of experienced midfielder Thomas Partey, but the Ghana international is currently out of contract and is yet to sign the new deal he has been offered. More Trending Asked if Zubimendi's imminent arrival was playing on his mind, he told 3 Sports: 'I think the first thing is where are you happy and wher do you feel at home. At the end of the day you've been in football, you've been in different teams. 'Then it's about what is your next objective what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind. 'We are not getting younger. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you go out nobody is going to destroy your family, these are things you have to look at. When you are young you just anywhere. 'I'm an Arsenal fan, I can't decide anything and just have to leave it to may agent and the club. Me, I just want to enjoy football.' MORE: Liverpool star convinced Florian Wirtz arrival will force 'dream' move to Barcelona MORE: Jadon Sancho's preferred club tells him they are not interested in summer transfer MORE: Arsenal dealt blow as Nico Williams responds to Bayern Munich approach
