Tennis legend Rafael Nadal told an audience in Lisbon that embracing discomfort and avoiding excuses were crucial to his unparalleled success on the court and remain fundamental to his post-retirement endeavors.
The retired Spanish star, speaking at the VTEX Connect Europe technology summit, detailed his philosophy that excuses hinder progress and true achievement requires hardship. “I always felt that looking for justifications didn’t help you get back to the top,” Nadal stated. “You can find excuses to feel better in the moment… But, at the end of the day, excuses don’t help you become better.”
He emphasized that when goals were not met, it was simply “because you weren’t good enough.” This mindset underpinned a career that saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 at Roland Garros, earning him the moniker ‘King of Clay’.
“To achieve great success, the word comfortable is not the right one,” Nadal explained at the event, held in a central venue in Lisbon. “If you want to have success, you have to be uncomfortable. To have success, you have to suffer, hear things you don’t want to hear, have doubts.”
He credited his long-standing team for not sparing him criticism. He joked that he never fired anyone, drawing laughter from the enthusiastic crowd.
Now 39 and having retired from competitive play last year, the Mallorca native described himself as someone who never feared taking risks. He continuously sought to improve his game every time he stepped onto the court.
Nadal recalled the 2022 Australian Open final, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev after being two sets down, as a career highlight he would relive. “In the final part of my career, when I was still able to be competitive, we went to Australia without many expectations and winning there, coming from two sets down… The energy I felt on court was unforgettable,” he said.
He spoke warmly of his iconic rivalries with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, known as the ‘Big 4’. Nadal believes their legacy is one of mutual respect, inspiring a new generation of players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The former world number one also offered advice to younger athletes, urging them to stay focused despite increased modern-day distractions. “When I was young, there were far fewer distractions,” he observed, noting that young players at his academy often struggle to listen due to “too many options.”
Now an entrepreneur, Nadal detailed how lessons from tennis translate to the business world. “Sport is a world where you learn many things. It gives you a basis for everything,” he said. “Sport puts you in your place, because we always lose. Defeat leads to humility.”
He added that in sports, one learns teamwork, listening to experienced individuals, and accepting the necessity of change.
Though far from his peak physical condition, Nadal still exchanged a few balls with the moderator on stage. When an audience member called him “the best,” he smiled widely and responded, “No, no, especially not now.”