"I don't want to travel constantly. That's a requirement for a coach, and right now, I find that unsuitable for me," Nadal told AS in an interview on 30/12. "The future is hard to predict, because what I feel today might not be true anymore. But currently, I am content with my life."

Nadal's statement put an end to speculation about him potentially coaching Alcaraz. Previously, Carlitos (Alcaraz's nickname) had ended his partnership with Ferrero, who had been with him since 2019 and contributed to his six Grand Slam titles, including Roland Garros and the US Open this year. Alcaraz currently has one coach, Samuel Lopez.

Nadal (left) and Alcaraz playing doubles together at the Olympic Paris in 7/2024, on Philippe Chatrier court. *Photo: Reuters*.

Nadal is not yet interested in coaching but affirmed his readiness to take on the role of Spain's Davis Cup captain: "I just retired; it's too soon to think about that. Perhaps it's not the right time to discuss this, but I think I would enjoy becoming the Davis Cup captain someday."

Nadal retired over one year ago, leaving a significant legacy with 22 Grand Slam titles. Following the 39-year-old veteran, Alcaraz is considered a promising Spanish player expected to follow in his legendary footsteps, thanks to his innate talent and an aggressive, persistent playing style that shares many similarities. However, Nadal believes that he, Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner are distinctly different types of players.

"They possess a completely different style from what I had before. Carlos plays spontaneously. He can make many errors, but that is offset by his ability to unleash brilliant shots. Sometimes he doesn't follow a specific tactic, which makes Carlos unpredictable and more exciting for viewers," Nadal commented on Alcaraz. "Carlos sometimes loses focus or plays below his best, but the reality shows he consistently achieves good results, evident in his successful one year."

Regarding Sinner, Nadal was impressed by his ability to maintain consistency: "Jannik plays with clear intent, a more specific approach. He always stays focused and is extremely patient in his game plan. That's why Jannik is incredibly stable, steady, and often loses very few games in each match."

Vy Anh