Nadal’s Second Career in Padel?

M

Manhattan

Rookie
Videos of Rafael Nadal playing padel went viral recently, and he also shared some photos on his social media. With his retirement from tennis, could he actually take up padel competitively? He’s played for years, and his skill set could make him a real threat.

But there’s another side to this. Novak Djokovic recently said padel and pickleball are threatening recreational tennis. So when a legend like Nadal is seen promoting padel, is that good for tennis or a bad look?

Could Nadal go pro in padel—and should he?
 
It seems like all these other racquet sports are throwing a lot of money at retired tennis players to promote pickleball, padel etc. They might also see a business opportunity to invest in alternate pro tours, exhibition tournaments etc. in these sports utilizing their tennis fame. Maybe Nadal who consented to being appointed the Saudi ambassador for tennis might also become the ambassador for a Saudi-financed padel Pro tour.

The man is trying to make more money to buy a bigger boat as his yacht must not be big enough:cool:.
 
Rosstour said:
It's not a conspiracy, I think he may play. Nothing nefarious there.
Click to expand...
No chance. Rafa only stayed a professional post 2022 as he knew he was carrying the Olympic Torch. He did not want to be a retired player. He has moved on from tennis apart from his own Academy. Rafa is not a sentimental guy, and he doesnt dwell on the past. He achieved all his goals in tennis, but Nadal is the type of person, which is true for almost all high achievers in life, who doesnt long for the past.
Tennis is the rear view mirror for him now.
 
messiahrobins said:
No chance. Rafa only stayed a professional post 2022 as he knew he was carrying the Olympic Torch. He did not want to be a retired player. He has moved on from tennis apart from his own Academy. Rafa is not a sentimental guy, and he doesnt dwell on the past. He achieved all his goals in tennis, but Nadal is the type of person, which is true for almost all high achievers in life, who doesnt long for the past.
Tennis is the rear view mirror for him now.
Click to expand...

Do you know the guy personally? Sounds like another one of your armchair assessments to separate the men from the boys

What we do know is that he was a psycho competitor and I don't think it's been as easy for him to let the game go as his fans like to say. He said some things before Davis Cup to suggest that the retirement isn't necessarily a done deal...that is what I'm going off of
 
socallefty said:
It seems like all these other racquet sports are throwing a lot of money at retired tennis players to promote pickleball, padel etc. They might also see a business opportunity to invest in alternate pro tours, exhibition tournaments etc. in these sports utilizing their tennis fame. Maybe Nadal who consented to being appointed the Saudi ambassador for tennis might also become the ambassador for a Saudi-financed padel Pro tour.

The man is trying to make more money to buy a bigger boat as his yacht must not be big enough:cool:.
Click to expand...
It's very funny that Fed devotees have constantly bragged about their beloved player's money (including money from a Swiss bank doing business in Saudi Arabia), but they get mad when someone else earns money (especially Rafa whom they have bashed since he beat Fed devotees’ beloved player at the 2004 Miami Masters.) :D
 
MichaelNadal said:
He really got shafted getting Zverev R1, that was some bs
Click to expand...

He should have turned heel at the end of that match at the net....

john-cena-wwe-heel-turn-raw-tonight.jpg
 
Whats the difference between pickleball and paddel.
They look very similar

While they are easier to play, they cant match tv viewership level of tennis.
 
In an alternate universe, my bestie Ross was a Nadal fan from the start and we had crispy wings while watching the Wimbledon 2008 final 8-B
 
roysid said:
Whats the difference between pickleball and paddel.
They look very similar

While they are easier to play, they cant match tv viewership level of tennis.
Click to expand...
different court, different racket, different ball. It is the same like squash is the same as tennis.

Padel is VERY popular in Spain and probably the Spanish speaking world, it was invented in Mexico.
Pickleball is a USA invention. Maybe the ought close the borders, just in case the bad padel invades the greater America. ;)

Why would Nadal go pro in padel? I assume it is just something for fun. Pro golf, maybe that would be nice to try, but then again all the travel, why bother.
 
Manhattan said:
Videos of Rafael Nadal playing padel went viral recently, and he also shared some photos on his social media. With his retirement from tennis, could he actually take up padel competitively? He’s played for years, and his skill set could make him a real threat.

But there’s another side to this. Novak Djokovic recently said padel and pickleball are threatening recreational tennis. So when a legend like Nadal is seen promoting padel, is that good for tennis or a bad look?

Could Nadal go pro in padel—and should he?
Click to expand...
As for Rafa sharing pictures of himself playing padel, he promoted Babolat padel rackets, because on February 27, his academy and Babolat expanded their existing partnership deal (tennis) to include padel.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896940821947289894

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895439224910037460

Post #440:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/nadal-news-3-0.778266/page-9#post-18623734

:giggle:
 
socallefty said:
... Maybe Nadal who consented to being appointed the Saudi ambassador for tennis might also become the ambassador for a Saudi-financed padel Pro tour.
...
Click to expand...
As for the "Saudi-financed padel Pro tour", Rafa has been connected with the Premier Padel Tour for a long time.

Rafa’s academy in Kuwait hosted the Kuwait Premier Padel P1 tournament from 9 – 17 November 2024. The tournament was voted by fans as the 2024 Best Professional Padel Tournament. More than 326 thousand people participated in the vote.

Premier Padel is the official global padel tour for elite players, governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP). The 2024 Premier Padel calendar included 25 tournaments in 17 countries across the world.

The academy was presented with Certificate of Appreciation for its “outstanding participation and significant contribution to the success of this prestigious sporting event” by the organizing committee of the tournament.

GkjaCWPWwAAbmpQ


Post #422:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/nadal-news-3-0.778266/page-9#post-18617971
(y)
 
Last edited:
roysid said:
Whats the difference between pickleball and paddel.
They look very similar

While they are easier to play, they cant match tv viewership level of tennis.
Click to expand...
Padel uses the plastic/glass fence at the back and bit of the sides that you can hit the ball off like a squash court. Pickleball court is a little smaller and resembles a tennis court.
 
likely exploring a business opportunity, that's all

if he has to play an exo or two over the coming years he might do that
 
Manhattan said:
Videos of Rafael Nadal playing padel went viral recently, and he also shared some photos on his social media. With his retirement from tennis, could he actually take up padel competitively? He’s played for years, and his skill set could make him a real threat.

But there’s another side to this. Novak Djokovic recently said padel and pickleball are threatening recreational tennis. So when a legend like Nadal is seen promoting padel, is that good for tennis or a bad look?

Could Nadal go pro in padel—and should he?
Click to expand...
He'd definitely be a top player if he chose to pursue it
 
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