'I’m taking this as my last year and I want to enjoy every moment,' says Rafael Nadal

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has recently opened up about his emotions after suffering a loss against Alex de Minaur in the second round of the Barcelona Open. Notably, the 22-time Grand Slam title winner acknowledged that, no matter how strong he is, the opposition also seeks to seize a crucial part of his life.

The great player accepted that being able to be happy matters most during his last-game career. However, he admitted that it was his dream to win Barcelona, but he is happy to make every moment special at this turning point in his career. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal went on to strike 11 winners and 42 unforced errors while picking up 41 points out of 100.

 “More than lamenting where I wasn’t able to be, I prefer to be happy that I am here. On a personal level, it is a gift for me to be in Barcelona. I’m taking this as my last year and I want to enjoy every moment.,” Nadal told a news conference before the Barcelona Open, having missed the Australian Open, Doha, Indian Wells, and Monte Carlo.

I can say I’m very very fortunate I didn’t play Rafa a couple of years earlier on clay: Alex de Minaur

Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur also expressed his happiness after being able to beat players like Rafael Nadal. The great Australian star acknowledged that it was very fortunate for him to play against Nadal, and he had been unable to face him for the past couple of years.

“Today to say that I am favourite I think is stupidity, (Stefanos) Tsitsipas knows it’s not the case. I understand what he says with respect for what I have done in this tournament. Everybody knows I am not the favourite to win a tournament. I can say I’m very very fortunate I didn’t play Rafa a couple of years earlier on clay. It would’ve been a very very different result," Alex de Minaur said.