Rafael Nadal has ruled out a move into coaching, at least for now. The tennis legend has been tipped as a potential coach for compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who recently split from his mentor, Juan Carlos Ferrero, but has suggested that working with the young Spaniard doesn't fit in with his current plans.
Nadal told AS, "I've always had the utmost respect for what might happen in the future, because what you feel today isn't necessarily what you'll feel later. Life is constantly changing, especially when you have young children: you see life one way, a few years go by, and it changes. Travelling constantly? I don't see it happening. Being a coach would require that, and right now, it doesn't fit with my life."
Nadal, 39, also revealed that he would be open to leading Spain's Davis Cup team in the future, but is keen to put some distance between himself and tennis for the time being. The 22-time Grand Slam champion said, "Being a Davis Cup captain someday? Why not? I might enjoy it... or not. I just retired; it's too early to think about it. I respect life's processes and the need to adapt. Right now, it's not appropriate to think about that."
Nadal also discussed the rivalry between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and feels that the current dominant duo in men's tennis are "different" players to him. He said, "I don't identify with any of them. They are different players from what I was."
"I think Carlos is more random. He makes more mistakes, makes more spectacular points. Sometimes he doesn't have such a defined pattern of play, which makes him unpredictable and fun for the viewer.”
He added, “Jannik is a more methodical, focused player, with a more defined pattern of play, and who is adding things little by little, that's why he is so solid and loses very few games."
He added "Sometimes it seems that Carlos is more scattered, but when you see the results... He has had an incredibly regular and solid year in all the major tournaments. That's why I find it funny when I hear that it's scattered, the results say otherwise, that's my point of view."