Rafael Nadal
Off-court enjoyable, comedy moments & leaving a legacy: The various sides of Nadal’s legendary profession
ATPTour.com displays on the lighter aspect of the Spanish nice
November 18, 2024
Roberto Schmidt/AFP through Getty Photographs
Rafael Nadal has been certainly one of tennis’ best on and off-court ambassadors throughout his illustrious profession.
By Andy West
To have a good time 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 best opponents. They can even replicate on certainly one of tennis’ most iconic ambassadors, each on and off the courtroom.
The Spaniard was a vastly standard presence at tournaments world wide 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 a good time the top of Nadal’s illustrious profession, ATPTour.com appears to be like again at a number of the light-hearted, distinctive, and enjoyable moments offered by the Spaniard over the previous twenty 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 location of his water bottles by his chair, at all times letting his opponent cross the web earlier than he did throughout a changeover, and at all times pushing his hair behind his ear earlier than every serve.
Later in his profession, the Spaniard additionally acknowledged different mounted routines round his tennis, corresponding to at all times 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 in search of full focus as he ready to compete.
“Some name it superstition, but it surely’s not. If it have been superstition, why would I preserve 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 means of putting 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 Photographs
Teenage Rafa’s Iconic On-court Style
The tennis historical past books characteristic loads of trailblazers when it comes on-court vogue, and Nadal had just about written an entire new chapter himself inside months of his first appearances on the ATP Tour.
In 2005, the Spaniard delivered one of many best seasons in historical past, throughout which he gained 11-tour-level titles together with his maiden main crown at Roland Garros. He did most of it sporting his personal distinctive combos of sleeveless tops and pirate shorts, an outfit with which his early cost to stardom will at all times be linked.
Wearing his iconic sleeveless shirt/pirate shorts combo, Nadal wins 2005 Roland Garros. Picture Credit score: Julian Finney/Getty Photographs
Mastering Federer In The ‘Battle Of Surfaces’
Nadal and his nice rival Roger Federer performed a singular exhibition match on the previous’s dwelling island of Mallorca in Might 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 profitable streaks on clay and grass, respectively. The Spaniard had gained 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 Might 2007. Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs
Rafa & Roger Get The Giggles
By 2010 Nadal and Federer have been greater than used to life in entrance of the digital camera, however that didn’t cease the pair struggling a bout of the giggles whereas attempting to document 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 best 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 lift 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 continues to be the document 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 document match throughout three appearances on the Rio Open offered by Claro. In 2015, the Spaniard had the possibility to soak within the environment on the iconic Rio Carnival, which he attended together 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 vitality [from] everybody. Everybody was singing and dancing, it was unbelievable 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 through Getty Photographs
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 method that the Spaniard can proceed to form the game’s future is thru the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, which he based on his dwelling island of Mallorca in 2016.
Nadal has often spoken about his want to present again to tennis, the game wherein 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 together with his previous good friend Federer throughout a go to to the Italian Dolomites in Might 2024.
“Each Roger and I agree on one thing we consider is of the utmost significance,” defined Nadal, who was addressing 52 graduates from the academy. “How would we prefer to be remembered in just a few years? How do we wish the long run generations to think about us? We’re each very certain of our solutions.
“It’s nice that our achievements, our titles and our information 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 is able to at all times be remembered. Due to this fact, each Roger and I agree that we wish 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
Massive Identify In Barca
It isn’t simply an academy that bears Nadal’s identify. Shortly earlier than its 2017 version, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the place Nadal had at that time gained a document 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 certainly one of tennis’ all-time nice opponents, however that didn’t cease the Spaniard bringing his personal model of humour to the tennis courtroom. That side of his persona was on full show on the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva, when he sheepishly knowledgeable his Staff Europe doubles accomplice Stefanos Tsitsipas that he didn’t perceive the Greek’s behind-the-back tactical indicators.
“We should be a little bit bit extra clear with the fingers,” mentioned Nadal to Tsitsipas whereas stifling amusing as fellow Staff Europe star Federer giggled within the background. “As a result of I didn’t perceive what you referred to as.”
Nadal and Tsitsipas have been in the end edged by Kyrgios and Sock in a Match Tie-break in Geneva, however the Spaniard completed his profession with a profitable 142-77 tour-level doubles document. 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 gained the boys’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 Photographs for Laver Cup
Holding Cool In A ‘Scary Second’
A younger ball lady 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 tough second for the teen. Happily 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 most likely not second,” mentioned Nadal later. “The ball was fast and straight onto her head. She is a super-brave lady.”
In addition to his on-court apology, Nadal later met with Anita and her household and offered 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 arms Australian Open ball lady Anita Birchall his headband after his 2020 victory towards Federico Delbonis. Picture Credit score: Daniel Pockett/Getty Photographs
Rafa, Roger & Andy Take On Instagram Stay
The COVID-19 pandemic was a tricky time for thousands and thousands across the globe. Nadal did his greatest to supply some small respite for tennis followers by internet hosting what what he mentioned was his “first Instagram dwell, I feel ever”.
After overcoming some (extremely relatable) early points figuring out the way to add individuals to the chat, Nadal was joined by a few particular company. Firstly his nice on-court foe Federer got here aboard, with the pair happening to debate how they have 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 Stay feedback: “That is good,” wrote the ever-witty Murray. “[Rafa] can win 52 French Opens however not work Instagram”.
