Coming off the back of one of the most successful seasons of his career, Spanish legend Rafael Nadal has revealed the moment he will decide to hang up his racket and ride into the sunset. 

In an interview with Spanish publication AS, the 31-year-old said that he would walk away from tennis if he were ever to lose his love and motivation for the game.

A horrifying thought for his legions of fans around the world, but certainly an unlikely scenario as Nadal played some of the best tennis of his life during 2017, in the process, finishing the season as the world's top ranked player.

Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and New York this year, bringing his career total to 16, just three behind his great rival Roger Federer, showed that his appetite for the game remains undimmed, despite the numerous injuries he has faced throughout his career.

In the interview, he was philosophical and typically humble when addressing the idea of retirement.

"Well, I don't really have any dreams, but everything that has happened in my career has been more than I ever hoped for or imagined.

"My motivation is the same as it has always been, to keep feeling that I'm competitive every year and to keep enjoying tennis.

"I am lucky enough to be doing something that makes me happy. If one day I lose that feeling when I'm pushing myself to achieve something in my sport, that will be the moment to start thinking about doing something else.

"My goal is to keep playing at a level that gives me a chance to compete for the things that really motivate me for as long as possible," he added.

All tennis fans will be hoping that Nadal can remain injury free and motivated as a tantalizing tennis season is in prospect.

Nadal and Federer at the top of the rankings will be desperately trying to repel younger players like Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov, who had breakthrough seasons in 2017, not to mention the anticipated comebacks of former number 1's Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.