Rafael Nadal: 10 enjoyable moments from the Spaniard’s profession | ATP Tour

Rafael Nadal

Off-court enjoyable, comedy moments & leaving a legacy: The numerous sides of Nadal’s legendary profession

ATPTour.com displays on the lighter facet of the Spanish nice

November 18, 2024

To have fun the top of Rafael Nadal’s historic profession at this week’s Davis Cup Closing 8, ATPTour.com is publishing a collection of articles paying tribute to the Spaniard.

As Rafael Nadal retires, followers will keep in mind one of many ATP Tour’s biggest opponents. They may even replicate on one among tennis’ most iconic ambassadors, each on and off the courtroom.

The Spaniard was a massively widespread presence at tournaments around the globe all through his profession. His on-court exploits earned him thousands and thousands of followers globally, and his humble and gracious conduct off the courtroom ensured he stored them.

To have fun the top of Nadal’s illustrious profession, ATPTour.com seems to be again at among the light-hearted, distinctive, and enjoyable moments offered by the Spaniard over the previous 20 years.

The Superstitious Spaniard?
When Nadal arrived on the scene as a teenage prodigy from Mallorca in 2004, a few of his on-court behaviours caught the attention. They included him being meticulous with the position of his water bottles by his chair, all the time letting his opponent cross the web earlier than he did throughout a changeover, and all the time pushing his hair behind his ear earlier than every serve.

Later in his profession, the Spaniard additionally acknowledged different fastened routines round his tennis, reminiscent of all the time utilizing the identical bathe within the locker rooms at Roland Garros. But Nadal by no means thought-about these actions or mannerisms to be superstitions, however extra only a reflection of him looking for full focus as he ready to compete.

“Some name it superstition, but it surely’s not. If it had been superstition, why would I maintain doing the identical factor time and again whether or not I win or lose?,” wrote Nadal of his water bottle behavior in his 2012 autobiography, Rafa: My Story. “It’s a method of inserting myself in a match, ordering my environment to match the order I search in my head.”

_{^{Roger Federer and Nadal throughout a change of ends on the 2013 Nitto ATP Finals. Picture Credit score: Julian Finney/Getty Photos}}

Teenage Rafa’s Iconic On-court Vogue
The tennis historical past books characteristic loads of trailblazers when it comes on-court vogue, and Nadal had just about written a complete new chapter himself inside months of his first appearances on the ATP Tour.

In 2005, the Spaniard delivered one of many biggest seasons in historical past, throughout which he received 11-tour-level titles together with his maiden main crown at Roland Garros. He did most of it sporting his personal distinctive mixtures of sleeveless tops and pirate shorts, an outfit with which his early cost to stardom will all the time be linked.

_{^{Wearing his iconic sleeveless shirt/pirate shorts combo, Nadal wins 2005 Roland Garros. Picture Credit score: Julian Finney/Getty Photos}}

Mastering Federer In The ‘Battle Of Surfaces’
Nadal and his nice rival Roger Federer performed a novel exhibition match on the previous’s residence island of Mallorca in Could 2007. The then-No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings Federer and No. 2 Nadal performed a three-set match on a half-clay, half-grass courtroom at Palma Area.

The origins of the concept got here from Nadal and Federer’s beautiful successful streaks on clay and grass, respectively. The Spaniard had received 72 straight matches on clay heading into the exhibition match, whereas Federer was on a 48-match win streak on grass. Within the occasion, Nadal overcame Federer 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(12-10).

_{^{Nadal takes on Roger Federer within the ‘Battle of Surfaces’ in Could 2007. Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos}}

Rafa & Roger Get The Giggles
By 2010 Nadal and Federer had been greater than used to life in entrance of the digicam, however that didn’t cease the pair struggling a bout of the giggles whereas attempting to report a promotional video for a charity match in Zurich, Switzerland.

Even after years of intense on-court battles, the clip was a reminder of the shut off-court friendship between Nadal and Federer that helped outline one of many biggest Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalries in historical past.

The pair’s subsequent assembly in Zurich in December 2010 was the primary ‘Match for Africa’, which later turned a collection of exhibition matches to boost funds for youngsters’s training in Africa. The 2020 version of the occasion, which was held in Cape City, South Africa and raised greater than US$3 million, was performed in entrance of 51,954 individuals. That is still the report variety of spectators at any tennis match.

Roger Federer & Rafa Nadal are going to play a charity exhibition match in Cape City, South Africa in February 2020

That reminds us…😂@rogerfederer @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/ODuz8hr1aM

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 4, 2019

Clay-court King Meets Carnival
From 2014-16, Nadal racked up one title and a 10-2 report match throughout three appearances on the Rio Open introduced by Claro. In 2015, the Spaniard had the possibility to soak within the environment on the iconic Rio Carnival, which he attended along with his countryman David Ferrer and the one Brazilian to succeed in No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings historical past, Gustavo Kuerten.

“It was the primary time we had the possibility to benefit from the Rio Carnival and it has been an unforgettable expertise,” Nadal mentioned after his go to to one of many world’s most famed avenue festivals. “There was unbelievable constructive power [from] everybody. Everybody was singing and dancing, it was incredible for me to have the possibility to get pleasure from this distinctive expertise.”

_{^{Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Gustavo Kuerten at Rio Carnival in 2015. Picture: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP by way of Getty Photos}}

Leaving A Legacy
At the same time as his taking part in profession involves an finish, Nadal’s affect on the world of tennis will dwell on. A technique that the Spaniard can proceed to form the game’s future is thru the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, which he based on his residence island of Mallorca in 2016.

Nadal has often spoken about his want to provide again to tennis, the game during which he has loved so many historic moments of success. He revealed his ideas on the concept of ‘legacy’ in a speech on the 2024 Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar commencement ceremony, throughout which he recalled a dialog he shared along with his previous buddy Federer throughout a go to to the Italian Dolomites in Could 2024.

“Each Roger and I agree on one thing we imagine is of the utmost significance,” defined Nadal, who was addressing 52 graduates from the academy. “How would we wish to be remembered in a number of years? How do we wish the longer term generations to consider us? We’re each very positive of our solutions.

“It’s nice that our achievements, our titles and our data are recognised, however because the years go by it’s possible that somebody will arrive and do one thing higher. What’s necessary, then, is that which can all the time be remembered. Subsequently, each Roger and I agree that we want to be remembered nearly as good individuals.”

_{^{Carlos Moya and Nadal with the Class of 2024 on the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. Picture Credit score: Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar}}

Huge Identify In Barca
It’s not simply an academy that bears Nadal’s title. Shortly earlier than its 2017 version, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the place Nadal had at that time received a report 9 titles, introduced it was renaming its centre courtroom Pista Rafa Nadal.

“An honor to see this on the #TenisBarcelona!”, wrote Nadal on the time in Spanish on X, previously generally known as Twitter. “Thanks very a lot @bcnopenbs”.

On courtroom, the house favorite responded to the honour in predictable vogue. He charged to his tenth crown on the clay-court ATP 500 with out dropping a set, easing previous the fast-rising Dominic Thiem within the championship match. Nadal went on to increase his title tally in Barcelona to 12 with additional triumphs in 2018 and 2021.

Un honor ver esto en el #TenisBarcelona! Muchas gracias @bcnopenbs 🙂 pic.twitter.com/RMGZaKzuw4

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 26, 2017

Staying In Synch With Stef!
Nadal is famend as one among tennis’ all-time nice opponents, however that didn’t cease the Spaniard bringing his personal model of humour to the tennis courtroom. That facet of his persona was on full show on the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva, when he sheepishly knowledgeable his Workforce Europe doubles companion Stefanos Tsitsipas that he didn’t perceive the Greek’s behind-the-back tactical alerts.

“We must be just a little bit extra clear with the fingers,” mentioned Nadal to Tsitsipas whereas stifling fun as fellow Workforce Europe star Federer giggled within the background. “As a result of I didn’t perceive what you referred to as.”

Nadal and Tsitsipas had been in the end edged by Kyrgios and Sock in a Match Tie-break in Geneva, however the Spaniard completed his profession with a successful 142-77 tour-level doubles report. That tally consists of title runs at Masters 1000 occasions in Monte-Carlo (2008 w/Tommy Robredo) and Indian Wells (2010 and 2012, each w/ Marc Lopez). He additionally received the lads’s doubles gold medal with Lopez on the 2016 Rio Olympics.

_{^{Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal in doubles motion on the 2019 Laver Cup. Picture Credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos for Laver Cup}}

Maintaining Cool In A ‘Scary Second’
A younger ball woman discovered first-hand simply how highly effective Nadal’s fearsome forehand was on the 2020 Australian Open, when she was struck on the pinnacle by a wayward return from the Spanish lefty throughout his second-round conflict towards Federico Delbonis.

Nadal instantly rushed over to Anita Birchall in what might have been a troublesome second for the teen. Luckily she was not damage, and Nadal gave her a kiss on the cheek earlier than later handing Anita his headband after wrapping up a straight-sets victory on Rod Laver Area.

“For her, it was in all probability not a superb second,” mentioned Nadal later. “The ball was fast and straight onto her head. She is a super-brave woman.”

In addition to his on-court apology, Nadal later met with Anita and her household and introduced her with a signed cap. The episode was an indication of the stylish statesman that Nadal was all through his profession, mirrored within the truth he’s a five-time recipient of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award (2010, 2018-2021).

_{^{Rafael Nadal fingers Australian Open ball woman Anita Birchall his headband after his 2020 victory towards Federico Delbonis. Picture Credit score: Daniel Pockett/Getty Photos}}

Rafa, Roger & Andy Take On Instagram Dwell
The COVID-19 pandemic was a troublesome time for thousands and thousands across the globe. Nadal did his finest to supply some small respite for tennis followers by internet hosting what what he mentioned was his “first Instagram dwell, I believe ever”.

After overcoming some (extremely relatable) early points understanding how you can add individuals to the chat, Nadal was joined by a few particular friends. Firstly his nice on-court foe Federer got here aboard, with the pair happening to debate how they had been spending their time with the ATP Tour suspended.

Later, he chatted with one other of his nice rivals, Andy Murray, who had already joined in with some light-hearted ribbing within the IG Dwell feedback: “That is sensible,” wrote the ever-witty Murray. “[Rafa] can win 52 French Opens however not work Instagram”.