Rafael Nadal: 10 funny moments in the Spaniard’s career | ATP Tour

Rafael Nadal

Funny moments in Nadal’s legendary career

ATPTour.com compiles the kinder side of the great Spanish champion

November 18, 2024

With Rafael Nadal retiring, fans will remember him as one of the fiercest competitors on the ATP Tour. They will also appreciate him as one of the sport’s most iconic icons both on and off the court.

The Spaniard has been a figure of enormous popularity in tournaments around the world throughout his career. His virtues on the court aroused admiration in millions of fans worldwide, while his humble and approachable nature off the court made them stay by his side.

To celebrate the close of a prodigious career, ATPTour.com reviews some of the nicest, most unique and fun moments featured by the Spaniard during the last two decades.

A Superstitious Guy?
When Nadal burst onto the circuit as a teenage prodigy from Mallorca in 2004, some of his on-court routines attracted attention. Among them, his meticulousness in placing water bottles next to his chair, allowing his opponent to cross the net first in a change of ends and always tucking his hair behind his ear before each serve.

Later in his career, the Spaniard revealed other fixed routines around his tennis, such as always using the same shower in the locker rooms at Roland Garros. However, Nadal never considered these actions a superstition but rather a reflection of his concentration ahead of the competition.

“Some call it superstition, but it’s not. If it were superstition, would you continue doing the same thing over and over again whether you won or lost?” Nadal wrote in 2012 about his bottle habit in his autobiography. Rafa: My Story. “It’s a way to get into a game, to organize my things in the same way I organize my mind.”

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_{^{Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during a change of ends at the 2013 Nitto ATP Finals. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images}}

The Iconic Clothing Of The Teenage Rafa
The tennis history books are filled with trailblazers when it comes to on-court fashion, and Nadal made his own during his first few months on the ATP Tour.

In 2005, the Spaniard completed one of the best seasons in history, winning 11 singles titles including his first Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros. The Spaniard achieved much of these successes wearing a unique combination of sleeveless t-shirts and capri pants, an outfit to which his emergence on the circuit will always be linked.

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_{^{Dressed in his iconic tank top and capri pants, Nadal wins Roland Garros 2005. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images}}

Dominating Federer In The ‘Battle Of The Surfaces’
Nadal and his great rival Roger Federer played a unique exhibition on the island of Mallorca in May 2007. The then No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Federer and No. 2 Nadal played a three-set match on a clay court and grass in the Palma Arena.

The origin of the idea came thanks to the impressive winning streaks of Nadal and Federer on clay and grass, respectively. The Spaniard had won 72 consecutive matches on clay before the exhibition, while Federer boasted a streak of 48 consecutive victories on grass. Nadal beat Federer 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(10).

_{^{Nadal faces Roger Federer in the ‘Battle of the Surfaces’ in May 2007. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}}

Rafa and Roger can’t stop laughing
In 2010, Nadal and Federer were more than used to living in front of the cameras, but that did not stop them both from suffering fits of laughter trying to record the promotional video for a charity match in Zurich (Switzerland).

After years of intense battles on the court, this moment served to remember the close relationship off the court between Nadal and Federer. An attribute that helped them write one of the greatest Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalries in history.

The match played between the two in Zurich in December 2010 was the first Match for Africalater converted into a series of exhibitions with the aim of raising funds for children’s education projects in Africa. The 2020 edition of the event, held in Cape Town (South Africa) with fundraising exceeding $3 million, took place in front of 51,954 spectators. It remains the record for attendance at a tennis match.

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

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

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 4, 2019

Rafa Gets to Know the Carnival
Between 2014 and 2016, Nadal won a title and compiled a 10-2 record in his three appearances at the Rio Open presented by Claro. In 2015, the Spaniard had the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of the iconic Rio Carnival, which he attended alongside his compatriot David Ferrer and Gustavo Kuerten, the only Brazilian to have reached No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings.

“It was the first time that I have had the opportunity to enjoy the Rio Carnival and it has been an unforgettable experience,” Nadal said after visiting one of the most recognized street festivals in the world. “Everyone’s positive energy is incredible. Everyone was singing and dancing, it was fantastic to have the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience.”

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_{^{Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Gustavo Kuerten at the Rio Carnival in 2015. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images}}

Leaving a Legacy
Although his sporting career ends, Nadal’s influence will continue to live on in the world of tennis. The Spaniard can continue to shape the future of the sport through the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, founded on his native island of Mallorca in 2016.

Nadal has often spoken about his desire to contribute to tennis, the sport in which he has experienced great moments of success. The Spaniard revealed the idea of ​​leaving a ‘legacy’ during the 2024 graduation ceremony at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, in which he recalled a conversation he had with Federer during a visit to the Italian Dolomites in May 2024.

“Both Roger and I believe in something of utmost importance,” Nadal explained, addressing the academy’s 52 graduates. “How would we like to be remembered in a few years? What do we want future generations to think of us? We both have a pretty clear answer.”

“It’s nice that our achievements, our titles and records are recognized, but as the years go by it’s likely that someone will come along and surpass them. So what is important to remember? Both Roger and I would like to be remembered like good people.”

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_{^{Carlos Moyà and Nadal together with the Class of 2024 at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. Photography Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar}}

A Big Name In Barcelona
An academy is not the only place named after Nadal. Shortly before the 2017 edition, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where Rafa held nine titles at that time, announced the naming of its center court as Rafa Nadal Court.

“It’s an honor to see this at #TennisBarcelona! Nadal wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you very much @bcnopenbs.”

On the track, the local favorite responded to the tribute with his usual excellence. Rafa powered his way to his 10th clay-court ATP 500 crown without surrendering a set, beating emerging Dominic Thiem in the final. Nadal would expand his collection in Barcelona to 12 titles with triumphs in 2018 and 2021.

Deciphering Stef’s Signs
Nadal is recognized as one of the best competitors of all time, but that did not stop the Spaniard from showing his sense of humor on the courts. This aspect of his personality appeared especially strongly at the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva, where he told his doubles partner Stefanos Tsitsipas that he did not understand the tactical signals he was showing him from behind.

“We have to be a little clearer with our fingers,” Nadal told Tsitsipas, smiling as his teammate Federer roared with laughter from behind. “I didn’t understand what you wanted to tell me.”

Nadal and Tsitsipas ended up defeated by Kyrgios and Sock in the Tie-Break Match in Geneva, but the Spaniard closed his career with a record of 142-77 in doubles matches. That record includes Masters 1000 victories in Monte Carlo (2008 w/Tommy Robredo) and Indian Wells (2010 and 2012, both w/Marc López). Rafa also won the doubles gold medal alongside López at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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_{^{Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal compete in doubles at the Laver Cup 2019. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup}}

Calmly in a ‘Difficult Time’
A young ball girl learned first-hand about the power in Nadal’s forehand during the 2020 Australian Open, receiving a chance hit on the head with a return from the Spaniard during his second round match against Federico Delbonis.

Nadal immediately crossed the court until he reached Anita Birchall, in what could have been a delicate moment for the young woman. Fortunately she was not injured, and Nadal kissed her on the cheek before giving her his bandana after winning in three sets at the Rod Laver Arena.

“For her, it probably hasn’t been a good time,” Nadal said. “The ball was quick and straight to her head. She is a very brave girl.”

In addition to his apology on the court, Nadal later met with Anita and her family, and gave her a signed cap. The episode was a demonstration of the elegance that Nadal has maintained throughout his career, an attribute recognized as a five-time winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award (2010, 2018-2021).

_{^{Rafael Nadal gives ball girl Anita Birchall her bandana at the 2020 Australian Open.. Photograph: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images}}

Rafa, Roger and Andy Connect on Instagram Live
The COVID-19 pandemic was a difficult time for millions of people around the world. Nadal made an effort to give fans a break by facing what he called his “first Instagram live.”

After overcoming some (unforgettable) technical problems at the beginning to understand how to add people to the chat, Nadal was accompanied by two special guests. First, his great rival Federer appeared on screens, and the two chatted about how they were spending their time with the ATP Tour suspended.

Afterwards, he spoke with another of his main rivals, Andy Murray, who had already intervened by leaving some pearls in the IG Live comments. “This is brilliant,” wrote the ever-wry Murray. “[Rafa] “he can win 52 Roland Garros but it is not clear on Instagram.”