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'You're lying': Rafa Nadal has fans in stitches over Aus Open confession

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Rafa Nadal (pictured right) having a laugh during an interview and (pictured left) clapping his opponent off.
Rafa Nadal (pictured right) had fans in stitches in his Australian Open interview when he was asked bout how he keeps fit (pictured left). (Getty Images/Twitter)

Rafa Nadal won a hard-fought match against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann at the Australian Open on Wednesday, but fans couldn't get enough of the Spaniard's post-match interview after his modest gym admission.

Nadal was scratchy at times, converting just four of 16 break points, and took more than two and a half hours to defeat the gritty German 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena.

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The World No.6 credited Hanfmann, his 2019 French Open first-round opponent, with making his life difficult off the back of an impressive win over Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.

However, it was another moment in his post-match interview with Jim Courier that had fans adoring the Spaniard.

Courier asked how Nadal kept in good shape at the age of 35 and the Spaniard stunned everyone with his fitness confession.

“I play some golf. Well, honestly, and that’s the truth. I never have been a gym guy, you know," Nadal said, sending the crowd into laughter.

Courier immediately responded: "You're lying".

But, Nadal was adamant.

"I am not a big fan of the gym. I am more a fan of playing sports, different sports," he added.

“Since a couple of years ago with the knees, then with the foot, I was not able to play different sports as I used to do it in the past, and then, of course, today I have to be a little bit more focused on things that probably in the past I was not ... I probably work around one hour, one hour 30 minutes every day on the gym, but honestly, you know, I never did a lot of weights, no.

“But if you see my family, a lot of people is big and ... I do what I can, honestly.”

Courier then asked what Nadal would do to keep busy when he retires and Nadal returned the compliment to the commentator.

“You look great, so I would love to look like you, at your age!” Nadal quipped.

Tennis world reacts to Rafael Nadal gym admission

Nadal's confession that he isn't a big fan of the gym took many by surprise.

Ever since the Spaniard burst onto the ATP Tour, his sleeveless shirts and biceps have become part of his tennis aura.

Fans were quick to joke about their hatred of the gym, while others loved Nadal's sense of humour.

Nadal will next play either 28th seed Karen Khachanov or Benjamin Bonzi.

His Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, a young star who is often compared to the 20-time grand slam champ, thrashed Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 to book a clash with either world No.7 Matteo Berrettini or US wildcard Stefan Kozlov.

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