Rafael Nadal goes shirtless in rare family photo on a lake vacation

Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal was recently spotted enjoying a delightful outing with his family in Mallorca. The Spaniard also posed shirtless by the lakeside alongside a few friends.

The 38-year-old brought his illustrious tennis career to a poignant close at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga on Tuesday, November 19. In his final professional match, Nadal fell 6-4, 6-4 to Botic Van de Zandschulp. He had won the prestigious tournament five times in his career, and his farewell symbolized the end of the iconic "Big Three" era.

Rafael Nadal appears to be making the most of his post-retirement life. The Spaniard recently spent quality time with his family in Mallorca, per the photos shared on Instagram by his sister Maribel. The location, seemingly Cúber Lake, is a picturesque spot within the World Heritage-listed Serra de Tramuntana mountains, which stretch approximately 90 km along the island's west coast.

Watch the picture shared by Maribel on her Instagram story below:

Maribel Nadal's Instagram story; ( Source - Instagram @mariabel_nadal)

Maribel, who serves as the deputy general director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, has always maintained a close relationship with her family, particularly her brother. Known for sharing snippets of her life on social media, Maribel recently posted pictures from a Christmas gathering, where she sported a stylish, cozy outfit.

---

"The last year and a half have been very tough": Rafael Nadal on the challenges of his hip injury

Rafael Nadal at 2024 Brisbane International - Image Source: Getty

Nadal has endured numerous injuries in his illustrious career, but he couldn't fully recover from the hip injury he sustained at the 2023 Australian Open. In a recent interview with The National, the 38-year-old reflected on the challenges the injury caused.

“The last year and a half have been very tough in terms of not being able to practice and compete on a regular basis and to the standard that I am used to. So I tried my best until the last day," he said (via Tennis 365).

The 14-time Major champion expressed peace with his efforts, acknowledging the surgery didn't work as hoped. However, he finds satisfaction in knowing he dedicated himself fully to success until the very end.

“I just did the surgery in my hip to try to keep going but it simply didn’t work as good as I needed it to be to keep going. But I’m 100 per cent at peace with myself that I tried my best until the last day, to have success, and to stay with calm with myself that I did all I could do to be very well satisfied with myself,” he added.

In addition to his 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal secured 36 Masters 1000 titles and 92 tour-level victories. The Mallorcan also achieved a career Golden Slam, winning all four Major titles and an Olympic gold.