Newly retired tennis player Rafael Nadal has opened up for the first time about some of the mental health struggles he experienced during his brilliant career.
He did so in a text published Tuesday on The Player’s Tribune.
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“I was used to physical pain, but there were times when I had difficulty controlling my breathing and could not perform to my full potential,” he wrote.
“Today, I don’t mind saying it anymore. After all, we are all human, not superheroes,” continued the holder of 22 Grand Slam titles.
“Luckily, I haven’t gotten to the point where I lose control over certain things, like my anxiety level, but there are times when every player has difficulty controlling their mind, and when that happens, then it becomes difficult to control your game.”
Nadal added that he had thought about taking a break from professional tennis for a few months due to his anxiety issues, but instead “overcame it by always looking forward.”
The Spaniard also addressed the numerous physical injuries that affected him while he dominated on court. He notably revealed that the pain he feels chronically in his left foot appeared at the age of 17.
Nadal played his last match in the world of professional tennis last November, when he represented his country at the Davis Cup. He is considered the best player of all time on clay, having won the Roland-Garros tournament 14th time.