His parents once stopped Nadal from attending Roland Garros

In 2001, Nadal was known as the potential of Spanish tennis. At that time, he wanted to attend the Roland Garros youth tournament, but was prevented by his father Sebastian Nadal and mother Ana Maria, because the tournament time coincided with the school exam.

"I was very excited. I was 15 years old at that time and it was difficult to understand my parents, because in front of me was the opportunity to play a Grand Slam tournament, " Nadal recounted, after receiving an honorary Doctorate from Salamanca University on October 12. "Even though I was very disappointed, my parents still stood by their decision and in the end I was not allowed to play. "

Nadal's trip to France was canceled because his parents wanted him to focus on his studies. At first Nadal did not accept his parents' decision, but later he thought differently. "Over time, I understood that that decision was a big lesson, " Nadal added. "Now I thank my parents, because they helped me complete my compulsory education and taught me that no sporting goal can be placed above core values. "

In 2004, Nadal was ready to make his debut at the professional level in Paris. But he suffered an injury in his right foot, a precursor to Muller-Weiss syndrome later, forcing him to use special shoes and find ways to relieve pain throughout his career. In 2005, Nadal was able to compete in Paris, and won the first of 14 titles at Roland Garros, accounting for the majority of 22 Grand Slams in his entire career.

One of Nadal's outstanding characteristics is his ability to work tirelessly, based on the will to overcome all obstacles on his career path. He always knows how to learn from both victories and defeats. "You don't achieve anything without daily effort, without commitment to yourself and without paying attention to small details, " Nadal added. "Dreaming big is meaningless without working with intensity and clear goals every day. It is the habit and the persistent, quiet effort that is truly where great successes begin to form."

Nadal became the first athlete in history to be awarded an honorary Doctorate by the University of Salamanca, a school west of Madrid. "As you know, I did not pursue a traditional academic path like most of you here, my educational journey was completely different, " he said. "My life has taken place through tournaments. tennis courts and courts, traveling across five continents, competing and learning from sport and the experiences that come with it. Therefore, this recognition is not only an honor for me, but also shows respect for sport and what it represents to society."

"The King of Clay " not only stands out for his fierce competitive spirit and great successes in his career, but also for his exemplary character both on and off the court. Nadal shared that sport is the school of his life.

"Ever since As a child, sports was my school, even my university, " he said. "What I learned on the court always stayed with me both in tennis and in life. Sports taught me the value of discipline, taught me that I am no better than anyone. Because in tournaments, as in life, no one can win all the time ".