After chasing titles and trophies for more than two decades, tennis legend Rafa Nadal retired from the professional sport in 2024. Now he is dedicating his time to multiple business ventures. But this second act as an entrepreneur did not begin overnight. Nadal has long been laying the foundation for a business portfolio that spans health, sport and education.

In this episode of “CNBC Meets,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion speaks with host Tania Bryer about being at peace with his retirement from competitive tennis, the multimillion-dollar deal to help grow his tennis academy and his excitement about building a hospitality business.

At the opening of his latest hotel in Spain’s Canary Islands, Nadal explains why years of traveling for tournaments inspired the move and how his brand Zel — a joint venture with Meliá Hotels International — was developed on the back of a napkin over lunch with Meliá’s Chairman & CEO, Gabriel Escarrer.

He also shares his thoughts on tennis today, from player rivalries to prize money.

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For 15 years, CNBC Meets has brought you rare access to some of the world’s most recognizable figures.

Now, hear from them directly wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Tania Bryer, CNBC Meets explores the empires behind the icons, with deeper conversations on ambition, legacy and what comes next.

In this first episode, Tania sits down with tennis legend Rafa Nadal as he reflects on life beyond the court, building businesses after retirement and how he measures success now that the scoreboard is gone.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.