Spanish tennis is in good hands, led by Carlos Alcaraz, who recently defeated his idol Rafael Nadal at The Six Kings Slam. The victory symbolized a sort of handover between generations. With the moment of Nadal’s retirement approaching—after more than 20 years of a career full of success—the 22-time Grand Slam champion is set to bid farewell to tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

In an interview with AS, a Spanish newspaper, after participating in a Saudi exhibition, the 38-year-old Spaniard shared his thoughts on two rising stars: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Nadal’s View on the New Era of Tennis

“The two of them are above everyone else. I don’t see a rival who can constantly challenge them,” said Nadal, referring to Alcaraz and Sinner. “One day, of course, there will be many very good players who can compete. But in the medium term, there is no one who can give them real competition, as long as they don’t suffer an injury that prevents them from performing at the same level.”

Nadal acknowledged that tennis is cyclical and that as his era, alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, comes to an end, a new one is taking shape.

“Carlos already has four Grand Slam titles, and Jannik has two. If they stay at this level, they will generate a lot of interest. Over time, this interest will grow, because great stars are not created in two days. What makes them great is their longevity and ability to transcend the sport. Eventually, people will watch them not just for the tennis, but for their personas.”

Nadal Reflects on His Rivalries with Djokovic and Federer

Nadal also touched on his final match with Novak Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam, where the Serbian emerged victorious in two sets. However, it was the post-match moments that stood out, with both players reflecting on their long-standing rivalry. Djokovic, in particular, praised Nadal’s illustrious career ahead of his retirement.

In his interview, Nadal also reminisced about his fierce battles with Roger Federer, calling the Swiss legend his “biggest rival.”

“Roger was the first one I had to beat when I arrived on the major circuit,” Nadal said. “My rivalry with both [Federer and Djokovic] was more intense than the one they had with each other. As for who is the best, the numbers say Djokovic. He deserves the title, as he has managed to avoid injuries the longest.”

Nadal on Retirement and the Future

During a press conference at the Six Kings Slam, Nadal shared insights into his decision to retire.

“Last year, I mentioned that it would probably be my last year, and it was. People expected me to retire before Roland Garros, but I wanted to give myself more time. It was necessary to see how my body responded after a difficult hip surgery. While I’m not tired of the sport, I simply cannot perform consistently at the level that motivates me.”

Nadal’s decision to delay his farewell reflects his deep connection with the sport and the need to carefully consider his next steps in life.