Rafael Nadal is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but the Spaniard has another sporting passion - and he's set to pursue it in his retirement

Rafael Nadal called time on his illustrious tennis career earlier this month, but the Spaniard is already looking ahead to his next sporting challenge

Nadal put a curtain on his astonishing career last week and Jim Courier would like to the Spaniard publish a book.

Rafael Nadal’s relatively low-key retirement ceremony at the Davis Cup has been defended by the head of the International Tennis Federation as being dictated by the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s wishes.

In the years that followed, Nadal worked to improve his all-court game and his serve, and his results away from clay improved. He missed the Australian Open in 2006 but won his second Roland Garros title before reaching that year’s Wimbledon final and U.S. Open quarters. Roger Federer schooled him on Centre Court, winning the first set 6-0.

Rafael Nadal's tennis career includes 22 Grand Slam trophies, a record 14 French Open titles and plenty of other significant numbers.

Rafael Nadal officially retired from professional tennis on Tuesday, November 19, after Spain was eliminated by Netherlands on Day 1 of the Davis Cup Finals. The 22-time Grand Slam champion dreamed of finishing in style in Malaga, but nothing went in the right direction.

I have never seen a guy more pumped watching another team try and win a match... He was just so into it. He loves tennis."