Rafael Nadal reveals that his wife suffers because of his passion for tennis.

Rafael Nadal, a tennis legend and sports icon, has made a surprising revelation that promises to stir up fans and golf enthusiasts. The former world number one, who has won an impressive 22 Grand Slam titles, is now dedicating much of his time to a new hobby: golf. During a charity tournament at the Club de Campo in Madrid, Nadal confessed that his passion for golf comes at a cost, particularly for his wife. “I follow golf every week, and my wife suffers because of it,” he said with a smile, revealing that his love for the sport is affecting family dynamics.

Nadal, known for being a fierce competitor on the court, is now enjoying the greens, where he has been excelling. In February 2024, he won the Balearic Mid-Amateur Championship by an impressive seven strokes. Since hanging up his racket in November 2024, the Spaniard has been relishing life off the court, dedicating himself to several rounds of golf, including with his great rival, Roger Federer, at the Pula Golf Resort in Mallorca in July 2025.

However, it is not just practice that has occupied his time; Nadal has become an avid golf fan, watching matches on television. He mentioned the performance of former world number one on the PGA Tour and two-time major winner, Jon Rahm, who had a spectacular final in Riyadh, as one of the moments that excited him the most recently. “Generally, I enjoy following him,” Nadal said, emphasizing his new passion.

In addition to his love for golf, Nadal made a significant announcement by unveiling his new charity golf circuit, Spin&Swing, in Mallorca. During the same occasion, he revealed that he has received several invitations to participate in professional golf events, but that tennis has always been his priority. “I have been invited several times, but so far the circumstances have not been right,” explained the King of Clay.

Now that he has stepped away from tennis competitions, the big question is: would Nadal consider accepting one of those opportunities? “You never know in the future, but I would have to feel that I was playing without making a fool of myself and with the hope of at least being able to compete, even if only against myself,” he admitted reflectively.

In addition to Nadal and Federer, another member of what was the famous Big Four, Andy Murray, has also made golf one of his favorite pastimes since retiring from tennis. The possibility of a reunion of the great rivals on the golf course seems real, with Nadal commenting: “Yes, that could happen, but they need to practice – I have a slight advantage in that. On court, there wasn’t much difference between us, but in this sport, I’m much better than they are.”

Nadal not only continues to be a phenomenon in sports, but also shows that life after tennis can be equally exciting, filled with new adventures and challenges. For fans, the anticipation of seeing this great athlete shine in a new arena is undoubtedly a reason for enthusiasm.