22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is still early in his retirement life. However, he seems to be enjoying the second phase of his life after a legendary tennis career. Recently, the Spaniard was seen playing padel on the courts of his own Rafa Nadal academy. This development is interesting because Nadal was aware of the padel and pickleball trend. Both sports have gotten a lot of attention, especially in the United States.
Many top-tier tennis players have started building padel courts alongside their tennis courts, seeing it as a business opportunity. Some big-time examples include Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and American superstar Jack Sock. Sock has fully converted himself from a professional tennis player to a professional pickleball player today. Similarly, Nadal owns 12 padel courts in his academy.
Rafael Nadal retired from his professional tennis career at last year’s Davis Cup. The Spaniard lost in his last singles match against the Netherlands against Botic Van De Zandschulp. Unfortunately for Nadal, the loss proved fundamental as Spain crashed out of the Davis Cup. Since then, Spanish tennis has taken a major hit, but Carlos Alcaraz keeps the Spanish flag flying high. The younger Spaniard holds four Grand Slam titles and is the youngest World No.1 in tennis history.
Returning to Nadal, he was a player known for giving everything on the court. As a result of his spirit and energy on the court, he was considered one of the game’s greatest fighters. If he can bring that energy and dynamic play to the padel courts, it would boost the sport in general. However, it is noted that more people are tilted towards padel and pickleball rather than tennis.
Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic fully explained the influence of padel and pickleball on tennis. He claimed that despite the history of tennis, it is in danger as it is the most expensive racket sport in the world. Moreover, considering the length and width of the courts, a tennis court covers more space than three padel courts.
Hence, many business models will take note of that and eventually convert all the tennis courts into padel or pickleball courts. Now, with Rafael Nadal and many other sports athletes attracted to it, things will only get worse for tennis unless something is done about it.
Padel is a growing sport worldwide, and Rafael Nadal has officially joined the bandwagon. The Spaniard’s enjoyment of playing padel adds to the trend the sport generates. If tennis players and other racket athletes continue to tilt towards this sport, it will undoubtedly attract more athletes. However, tennis will suffer the most from its resurgence.
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