There is no sweeter life than the life of a former athlete.
At first, it was a bit scary, you know. Since I was a child, I had dedicated all my energy to a goal and I didn't know how it would feel to leave it behind. But I had thought about it a lot, I had already processed it, and it went very well from the beginning. People asked me why I was retiring so young, but the truth is I no longer felt that fire on the track. I had lost it. Do you know what the first thing I did was?
Say. Putting my suitcases in the storage room. I had spent years with the suitcases in the room, always half-open and with clothes inside. As soon as I retired, I took them down to the storage room and decided to stay at home for at least two months without traveling. I made a big purchase, filled the fridge, and started creating a home with my partner. I know it sounds silly, but I felt the need to be at home.
Have you picked up a racket again?
No. Tennis was not a hobby for me; it was not something fun. For me, it was work. When I played, I didn't think about having a good time but about the serve position, improving the forehand, reading the plays well. Now that tennis is no longer a duty, I don't think about picking up a racket. Maybe in a couple of years, enough time will have passed. Right now, I'm trying other sports like golf or paddle, but just for fun. No thoughts of competing again.
You dedicated some time to Zumba.
I still take classes occasionally. Also yoga, pilates, or strength sessions, but all very light. Just to stay in shape. Last year I received a lot of criticism for my weight, and I understand it because people had only seen me in competition. But when you retire, it's normal to have a pizza and see your body change. Now I have found stability, a weight I am comfortable with. I won't go back to my competition weight because life is not about that; you can't live as if you were always in the Olympics.
Agassi wrote that tennis is tougher than boxing because in the ring, at least you can touch your opponent.
Tennis demands a lot from you; you have to be worth it. Talent or physicality alone is not enough; from a young age, you need a very particular personality: enjoying being alone, letting your imagination fly, knowing how to escape. At 17 or 18, you start competing at the elite level, and if you don't have the tools, it's very tough. I would create scenarios in my head... it was crazy. I kept talking to myself all the time, especially not to lose focus. There are studies that say you can't concentrate for more than a few minutes, and matches last two or three hours. Sometimes I would start thinking about what I would have for dinner that night and struggle to refocus. That's why Rafa [Nadal] won so much because he was always present on the court.
Grand Slams were your thing, in smaller tournaments...
I would shut down, it's true. I needed to face a great rival, in front of 10,000 people. When I was on such a stage, and the day was great, I felt no pain, and things just flowed... I floated, that feeling is incomparable.
I remember the second round of the 2014 Roland Garros, a two-set victory over Serena Williams.
It was one of those days. You know what? I have never spoken to Serena. She was my idol; if I could, I would tell her so many things... I would explain how much I admired her when I started playing in Venezuela. I have faith that one day it will happen. But when we were both competing, we were very reserved. I barely made friends on the circuit because then it was hard for me to face them.
Carlos Alcaraz wants to be the best in history without being a slave to tennis, is it possible?
I don't think so, honestly. He is very talented, but winning four Grand Slams is one thing, winning more than 24 is another. To dominate for so many years, you have to do everything strictly, live for and because of the sport, not deviate from the line in the slightest. If not, eventually, your body punishes you. In reality, he shouldn't set the goal of being the best in history because that's a heavy burden to carry. It's normal for it to weigh on him even though he's young.
Have you ever felt the need to disappear for a while?
When I was young, I didn't consider it because I was very ambitious and only thought about how to win the next tournament. But later in my career, yes, of course, I felt it. After many years with the same routines, it's normal to need to disconnect from the world.
Do you think Paula Badosa could be the next Spanish player to win a Roland Garros title?
She has the tennis level, without a doubt, but she is struggling a lot with injuries. It saddens me. No matter how much strength and prevention you do, there are bodies that are more prone to injuries, with some genetic weak points. I just hope she finds the recipe to stay healthy for many months and keep playing.
Question. What is the most impertinent question you have been asked? And how did you respond?
Answer. I don't remember a question, but I do remember an anecdote. At Roland Garros, after a match, a guy approached me and gave me a ball. I signed it, but he said he didn't want an autograph, to look behind me. He had written his number! I was in shock. I had just finished a super tough match, and the guy was hitting on me. I didn't call him, of course.